AYV News, March 27, 2026
A five-day training programme aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities has commenced in Freetown.
The training, organized by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) in partnership with DIGNITY – Danish Institute AgainstTorture, is taking place from March 23 to 27, 2026, at Hotel Barmoi.
Participants include staff of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, as well as regional representatives and members of Prison Watch Sierra Leone. The initiative forms part of a broader three-year programme designed to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks across Africa to combat torture and other forms of ill-treatment within criminal justice systems.
The workshop is focused on enhancing participants’ practical skills in monitoring detention centres, equipping them with tools to conduct effective oversight and ensure compliance with established human rights standards. It also aims to boost the capacity of national human rights institutions in countries including Sierra Leone and Kenya.
Speaking at the opening session, NANHRI Executive Director Gilbert Sebihogo emphasized that preventive prison monitoring is not merely a technical exercise but a critical step toward safeguarding human dignity and protecting the rights of detainees.
Organizers say the training is expected to strengthen collaboration between human rights institutions and civil society actors, while promoting accountability and adherence to international standards in detention facilities.
The programme comes at a time when calls are growing for improved conditions in detention centres and stronger mechanisms to protect the rights of persons deprived of liberty across the continent.
