The prison in Tiassalé, a locality situated at 125 km from Abidjan, from now on has a more humane image. The 107 prisoners currently being held there have just been offered the opportunity to become literate and learn how to sew – a skill that would help them once they are released.



In effect, the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), on Friday, 26 February 2016, officially handed over the keys to the prison's multi-purpose hall, which was rehabilitated with funds from the Mission's Quick Impact Projects programme.



In welcoming the UNOCI delegation led by Maud Ropars, deputy chief of the UN Mission's Civil Affairs Section, which has been accompanying the department's administrative authorities, the Mayor of Tiassalé, Soualio Sylla, thanked UNOCI for its action which he said will contribute to improving the living conditions of the prisoners.



The Registrar of the prison, Marcelline Yabi, said that thanks to actions carried out by human rights organisations, « prison life has become increasingly humanised », the kind of change that the State fully supports. « In this prison, we decided to choose sewing in order to facilitate the social reintegration of prisoners, » said Mrs Yabi. She said that prison authorities would like to include apprenticeship of other trades, such as carpentry and animal husbandry.



For his part, the Director of Prison Affairs, Boubacar Ouata, said that making prisoners useful was an integral part of security measures aimed at dissuading them from wanting to escape, while at the same time encouraging them to change their behaviour.



In her speech, Ms Ropars recalled that Security Council Resolution 2226 (2015) stressed the need to ensure that human rights are respected, including the rights of those detained in prison. She said that a prison should represent a place where people can be educated in order to prevent them from breaking the law once they have been released. « At the end of their term in prison, former detainees can put into pratice the skills they would have acquired during their time in the institution and live an honest life, while contributing to the development of their communities,» added Mrs Ropars.



The Prefect of Tiassalé, Jules Gouessé, expressed his gratitude to UNOCI for all it does to promote social cohesion and social reinsertion. « This multi-purpose hall for prisoners is a translation of the diversity and the targets of your actions, which are aimed at ensuring the well-being of people, the improvement of living conditions, without discrimination. He also noted that the UN Mission had already provided Tiassalé prison with six fish-farming ponds.



The ceremony included a guided visit of the multi-purpose hall, followed by sketches performed by prisoners on the importance of literacy and professional reinsertion. Prizes were later handed out to winners of sports and games competitions.