1 VSO, UNODC and SDC: Promoting Human Rights and Access to Health Services in Prisons in Southern Africa Clive Ingleby – VSO Lead health adviser

2 Southern Africa HIV infection rates in prisons significantly higher than that of the general population. (UNODC 2013) High rates of disease such as TB, STIs and hepatitis Female prisoners, adolescent and juvenile males at particular risk of sexual coercion and violence Sharing of needles, tattooing equipment, razors increases risk of HIV infection Prisoners viewed with suspicion so governments reluctant to invest money in health or rehabilitation 33% of prisoners are on remand only and most prisoners are eventually released back into society Background – why prisoners and why prison health? HIV rates LesothoMalawiMozbiqueSwazilandTanzaniaZambiaZimb National23.6%11%16%25.9%5.3%13.5%14.3% Prisons32.1%24%24.5%34.9%6.2%27.4%28%

3 Implemented by VSO Regional Health and AIDS Initiative for Southern Africa (RHAISA) in partnership with UNODC Working with local civil society, prisons and Ministries of Justice/Departments of Correctional Services Funding support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Implemented across 7 countries: Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe (first 3 focus countries for first 3 years) to be extended to Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Tanzania Promoting Human Rights and Access to Health Services in Prisons in Southern Africa: Prison Health is Public Health

4 UNODC improving clinical health and HIV service delivery in prisons Building organisational capacity of civil society organisations and prison systems through support provided by VSO International Volunteers Providing complementary services eg. psycho social support, prison nutrition gardens, rehabilitation and post release support services Southern African Network on Prisons of influential individuals to lobby policy makers and national governments to adopt SADC minimum standards Engaging with ex offenders and supporting them to be members of National Prisons Technical Working Groups Building capacity of Southern African Parliamentarians to lobby for implementation of prison health policies – VSO political volunteers A holistic approach…

5 Time and commitment and the need to sensitise governments and civil society International and regional instruments already exist for the protection of prisoners health rights – implementation is the challenge Baseline research revealed not only clinical health service challenges in prisons but also nutrition and psycho social support as key Joint approach of improving health service provision, capacity building of prisons and CSOs and advocacy is most effective Long term funding support like that provided by SDC is essential Prison health as part of SDG commitments to leave no-one behind Lessons learnt

6 “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela Thank you