2024-12-10T09:23:42+00:00
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi
Justice Ministry has announced plans to expand existing prisons and build new
facilities, including rehabilitation cities, in an effort to address
overcrowding in the country’s detention system.
Justice Minister
Khaled Shawani, speaking on International Human Rights Day, detailed the
ministry’s initiative. “The Ministry of Justice, represented by the Human
Rights Department, has successfully enacted the National Human Rights Plan for
the years 2021-2025,” Shawani said.
The plan aims to guide
institutions and government sectors in strengthening Iraq’s legislative system
and formulating policies to protect and promote human rights.
One of the key
outcomes of the plan, according to Shawani, is the unification of human rights
structures across government institutions to align with recommendations from
international treaties.
“Our ministry is
currently preparing the third report of the National Plan, which will include
progress made by official institutions,” Shawani explained. “We firmly believe
that the enhancement and protection of human rights can only be achieved
through evaluating progress and addressing shortcomings.”
Shawani also
emphasized the ministry’s commitment to reforming the prison system. “We are
keen, through our management of the prison and rehabilitation file, to conduct
regular field visits to identify issues and ensure the best services are
provided to detainees,” he said. “Our aim is to transform prisons into centers
for rehabilitation and the rebuilding of individuals by focusing on educational
programs and vocational training, through which we have achieved remarkable
success stories.”
Further more, the
minister confirmed that the expansion plans aim to resolve the current
overcrowding by building new prisons and rehabilitation cities. These new
facilities will include police stations, healthcare centers, and specialized
courts designed to streamline operations and eliminate bureaucratic
inefficiencies, in line with international standards.
Iraq’s prison system
has long struggled with overcrowding, exacerbated by decades of instability. A
recent report by the Iraqi Parliament’s Human Rights Committee highlighted dire
conditions within the nation’s prisons, where overcrowding, disease, and reports
of torture are rampant.
According to the
report, the prison population, estimated at 70,000 inmates, is housed in fewer
than 30 facilities, contributing to severe overcrowding and health crises.
The committee also
raised concerns about the presence of dangerous individuals, including foreign
terrorists, within Iraqi prisons.
Despite efforts to
reform the system, experts argue that political interference continues to
hinder progress. Reports of drug trafficking within prisons, with drugs
entering through brokers, point to ongoing corruption and systemic flaws.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
