Caption: Director-General of the National Prison Service of Mozambique and trainee during certificate ceremony. © UNODC
Maputo (Mozambique), 9 August 2023 – On 9 August 2023, 11 female inmates from the Ndlavela women’s prison in Mozambique received their training certificates in completion of a two-month IT course on Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
“Before this course, we thought we didn't have the capabilities to use a computer, but now we realize that we are capable,” shared one of the course finalists. Emphasizing the value of the acquired IT skills in today’s world, she added that “with all the knowledge we have gained, we are confident that we will return to society with new technical skills and capabilities that align with the current job market.”
The provision of educational and vocational training programmes in prisons, along with physical exercise facilities, and therapy and treatment for problems such as drug addiction and mental disabilities, are key to breaking the cycle of re-offending, entailing significant benefits not only for the individuals concerned, but also for public safety in a broader sense.
Mr. António Maurice, Director-General of the National Prison Service of Mozambique (SERNAP), recognized the importance of UNODC’s support to the Mozambican State’s efforts to “build and solidify its penitentiary system,” highlighting the previous support by UNODC in the development of SERNAP’s strategic plan and in the furnishing and equipping of the training room where the IT training programme took place.
The training room, the first of its kind in the country, inaugurated in October 2022 by the Ministry of Justice, Religious and Constitutional Affairs of Mozambique, SERNAP and UNODC, represents a significant step towards ensuring secure, humane and gender-sensitive custody, as well as youth empowerment. The facility can benefit both inmates and SERNAP staff by providing a platform for vocational and technical training for inmates such as the IT course, and also by delivering staff training on prison management.
At the training’s certificate ceremony, Zenobia Machanguana, UNODC National Project Officer in Mozambique, welcomed the prison’s initiative, stating that “today we witness the first results of the investment that made this room possible.”
Mr. Maurice urged course finalists to share their knowledge and experience gained throughout the IT training programme with fellow inmates: “Today you learned; perhaps tomorrow you may be the teacher.”
Although positive strides have been taken to reform the penitentiary service in Mozambique, significant challenges lie ahead, such as overcrowding. With the support of international partners, UNODC is committed to further supporting Mozambique in establishing a more rehabilitative approach to prison management, in line with international standards on prison management such as the Nelson Mandela and Bangkok Rules. In particular, UNODC will continue to promote the widespread adoption of courses that deliver key skills for the future.
