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Siren alarms about the situation of the Lebanese Prisons The formation of the national preventive mechanism
Is the real means to address the situation of Lebanese prisons From time to time , members of the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights - last one of them was MP Sakr - visit a number of Lebanese prisons, and after the visit, they are out to public through media flashes by giving information about the squalid conditions in prisons and the need to develop emergency plans for treatment. Khiam Rehabilitation Center for victims of violence and torture, whose Medical team visited 12 Lebanese prisons emphasizes that the problem of Lebanese prisons, is a miserable and old one and all of the successive governments including the current government bear the responsibility of it. Where this issue is not a priority for the government inspite that its an important humanitarian, and makes a staggering blow to prisons and the Lebanese community in general. The Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights since its founding in 1994, which is supposed to have a monitoring role and legislative failed to turn up for work and could not make an effective approach to the issue of prisons, despite the studies and the alleged national plan of human rights and they have been years of preparation without concrete steps . There is broad consensus in Lebanon, about the description of the miserable prison conditions, but for the moment there is no serious formal approach to address this issue. We say to the MP-Sakr, who visited Roumieh prison last week that the issue of prisons is not a financial issue, even if all deputies and ministers donated monthly pension, the problem is continuing and worsening because the solution is in the drawers of the cabinet. in the year 1997, the former Justice Minister Bahij Tabbara a prison reform project, presented to the Civil Service Council and the Shura Council of State and gained the approval but is still pending in the drawers of the cabinet. We ask the Minister of Justice and members of the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights , why the reform project of Bahij Tabara is in the drawers of the cabinet? What is the reason that prevent the government from the formation of the national preventive mechanism to monitor prisons in December 2009? Why Lebanon missed this opportunity, especially after he signed the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture? The formation of the national preventive mechanism to monitor prisons is a political will, and not financial and doesn't mps and ministirs pensions and we welcome their contributions to this cause. KRC is ringing the sirens of danger once again,The slowdown in the treatment and turning back to this explosive issue and indifference will lead to the Big Bang in the prisons and the government bears the responsibility. These prisons are a disgrace and dark record of Lebanon in the field of human rights and need a real treatment away from the media flashes and the play and political investments and the first steps is the fulfillment of the Lebanese government to sign the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, under which must be your Excellency the Minister of Justice, and Excellency Deputy Sakr and members of the Commission on Human Rights to accelerate without delay in the formation of the national preventive mechanism to monitor prisons to start the serious and quiet treatment, so as not to be seasonal cries, just screams in the valley of official neglect. 19/04/2010 Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture |