DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I 45 Good Practices The Special Rapporteur would like to make reference to some interesting experiences and practices that could be generalised throughout the rest of the country and could serve as an example to other African institutions and countries. The Ombudsman's office The Special Rapporteur would like to mention the efforts made to improve this vital mechanism for the respect of citizens' rights. In spite of the difficulties encountered by the Ombudsman's employees in the exercise of their functions, important efforts are being made to restructure the activities of the Ombudsman's office in order to reinforce the effectiveness of the protection of fundamental public freedoms in Namibia. The increased number of staff, the reforms undertaken and the choice of a global treatment for basic solutions to the problems brought to the attention of the Ombudsman's office are initiatives that the Special Rapporteur wishes to encourage. The Special Rapporteur also wishes to recommend that the Ombudsman's team is increased, particularly as regards as to more lawyers and highly qualified personnel. The Special Rapporteur also recommends that all the ministries fully cooperate with the Ombudsman's office in the interests of safeguarding fundamental liberties. Management and administration of prisons, prison farms, prison buildings The Special Rapporteur noted that the Ministry of Prisons and the Prison Administration committed themselves to carry out constructive reforms relating to the treatment of prisoners, rehabilitation and management of prisons. Rehabilitation and reintroduction into society as a means of combating recidivism and criminality are priorities of the Government and the Special Rapporteur encourages the country's authorities to take this constructive and sensible path. The Special Rapporteur would also like to underline some of the good practices observed in the prisons visited: A prison identity card is given to each prisoner on arrival, as well as a health booklet. The logbooks (particularly in Oluno) are usually well maintained, statistics are prepared making it much easier to understand the situation and the management of the prison. The Special Rapporteur also noted that the prisons were often quite well equipped, especially with regards to information technology, and that in general staff were well treated. The Special Rapporteur found that important efforts are under way to improve the prisons' self-sufficiency in food supplies. The Special Rapporteur would like to mention in particular the development of prison farms; staff training and the construction of a new training school which may in time have a sub-regional scope (Omaruru); the relocation of juvenile delinquents through the construction of a specialised centre for minors in Rundu. The Special Rapporteur commends these efforts by the Government of Namibia. NGOs' actions The Special Rapporteur would like to mention the programmes and activities undertaken by BRIDGE and the Legal Assistance Centre, and recommend to the country's authorities that they strengthen their collaboration with the structures created by civil society The aim of the Legal Assistance Centre is to improve access to the law, particularly for persons already in the justice system and minors, to strengthen the mechanisms for conflict resolution, to participate in civic education and raise the awareness of the public on important society issues, particularly when human dignity and rights are