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Four female prison wardens were hired to work in prison management in the Central African Republic. Photo: UNDP / Central African Republic

Four female prison wardens and 12 female prison guards trained at the National School of Administration of the Judiciary in Bangui have been seconded to the Minister of Justice as part of UNDP’s Project in Support of Judicial Security.

The hires mark the first time that qualified female staff have been chosen to work in prison management in the Central African Republic.  Prisons there, including detention facilities intended specifically for women, had since the time of the country’s independence been run by male personnel.

The female staff members were officially presented at a ceremony to launch a project to strengthen the rule of law (Project for the Reinforcement of the Rule of Law).   The hiring of female prison wardens and guards is designed to ensure that one of the most basic rights of incarcerated females can be met – namely, the right to be housed in facilities separate from male inmates.

As he spoke to the new female prison wardens, Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadera said that "human life is sacred even in prison."  He urged them to "contribute to making prison conditions more humane so that the penal system can succeed in rehabilitating prisoners and preparing them for a return to society" and "ensure that prisons are an environment in which due regard is shown for the rights of incarcerated persons, in accordance with domestic and international legal instruments."

The new recruits will be assigned to various prisons in Sibut, Bozoum, Bossangoa and Kaga Bandoro.