NANHRI, DIGNITY Train Sierra Leone Officials on Preventive Prison Monitoring
The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, in partnership with DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture, successfully conducted a five-day training on Preventive Prison Monitoring in Freetown.
Held from 23–27 March 2026 at Hotel Barmoi, the training brought together staff of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, including regional representatives, alongside members of Prison Watch Sierra Leone. The initiative forms part of a broader three-year programme focused on strengthening legal and institutional frameworks to prevent torture and ill-treatment within criminal justice systems across Africa.
The workshop aimed to build participants’ practical knowledge, skills, and tools for effective monitoring of places of detention. It specifically focused on enhancing the capacity of national human rights institutions, including participants from Sierra Leone and Kenya, by equipping them with improved techniques for preventive oversight and ensuring that detention conditions meet established human rights standards.
In his opening remarks, NANHRI Executive Director Gilbert Sebihogo underscored the importance of the initiative, stating that preventive monitoring is not only a technical function but also a responsibility grounded in the protection of human dignity.
The training concluded with the presentation of certificates of participation to attendees. Facilitators noted that the objectives of the programme were fully achieved and indicated plans for follow-up virtual sessions to further strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills.
©HRCSL Communications Team