SADC prides in women prison services
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday May 16, 2019 15:45
Speaking at the launch of Corrections/Prisons Women’s Network in Gaborone on Wednesday, he said prison services as one of the sectors in the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs ensures that those that break the laws of their countries are kept in custody. They are then rehabilitated to avoid re-offending. He also explained that it was imperative for prisons should to operate at an optimum with relevant and diversified competencies.
“It is against this background that we are gathered here today to recognize Women in Prison Services (WPS) as part of the diversity needed in prisons or correctional services. Women correctional officers play a differentiated role in the criminal justice system that must be acknowledged. As prisons and correctional services in the region invest in reform processes that are geared towards rehabilitation and reintegration, we cannot overlook the value of women as natural nurturers and builders,” he said.
Cardoso said that such special quality needed to be harnessed and utilized fully. He highlighted that focusing on women without including men could be counterproductive in the fight against crime. He implored the network to study and find out how best men could be included in their activities and operations so that there can be exchange of complementary qualities.
Regarding the composition of the crime fighting entity, he explained that the network was constituted to comprise representatives of the prisons female officers from the SADC member states. It also includes other relevant individuals whom the women network may deem fit and proper to be brought in, such as spouses of male serving Officers.
For his part, Dr Joseph Pitso said UN WPSA ‘s main objectives were to increase the participation of women in peace processes, peace missions and peace operations. It further strengthens their decision-making processes related to peace, and to focus on ensuring protection and support of women and children during armed conflicts and in post-conflict environment.
“The agenda’s foundation is Security Council Resolution 1325 which was adopted in 2000 in our neighboring country Namibia. We have decided to include women in peace and security issues because they suffer inappropriately, peace agreements have a better chances of success in they are included, and this move can transform power relations,” he said.
WPSA covers issues such as maintenance of international peace and security, protection and human rights, development cooperation and equal treatment-related policies and others. He explained that women should be involved in peace and security issues because they are committed to peace building, have unique perspective, have inclusive or consensus-based leadership and work across divides.
The SADC Symbolic launch of the Corrections/ Prisons Women’s Network recognizes the women’s network as a formal arm of the SADC Corrections or Prisons Sub Committee and is intended; to coordinate and conduct research on Corrections/Prisons female officers and peace keeping; to identify regional training needs for female officers readiness to participate in peace keeping missions and raise awareness and understanding of the work of the network and issues affecting women in corrections and or prisons.