ICRC praise efforts to address prison overcrowding
THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), through Dena Fisher, head of the ICRC mission to Cambodia, has commended the government for its efforts to improve on prison overcrowding.
It also pledged to continue the assistance it has provided in the prison management sector for more than three decades.
Fisher delivered her commendation during a February 5 working meeting with Minister of Interior Sar Sokha, according to the ministry’s social media statement.
It described how Fisher not only commended the ministry’s efforts, she committed to continuing to work on improving prison conditions in the Kingdom.
“Although the ICRC mission in Cambodia will undergo some reductions this year, the ICRC remains committed to assisting the prison sector. This includes the restoration of family and prisoners’ relations, through close cooperation with the CRC,” she said.
Sokha noted that the ICRC has supported Cambodia in many humanitarian areas in the past, most recently through its focus on the prison system and rehabilitation. He described the cooperation between the ministry and the ICRC – which began in 1993 – as “strong”.
“Through the interior ministry, the Cambodian government is focused on reducing overcrowding in prisons now and in the future. We aim to do this through improving detention conditions, and maintaining the welfare of detainees and the maintenance of detainees’ relationships with their families,” he said.
The two sides agreed to continue to further enhance their cooperation.
Nouth Savna, spokesman for the ministry’s General Department of Prisons (GDP), welcomed the ICRRC’s praise, explaining that the department was well aware of previous issues surrounding prison conditions, especially overcrowding, and had worked hard to overcome them.
He added that he has personally inspected several correctional centres and detention centres.
Savna acknowledged the ICRC’s support for the GDP, but noted that some large projects are suspended, as the ICRC has diverted aid to Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.
“We welcome the ICRC’s assistance. It has provided a lot of resources, including through funding, training and equipment. This has allowed many Cambodians to become experts in various fields, including prison management, since the 1990s,” he said.
He reiterated that the government is working hard to reduce overcrowding in prisons still further. One of the ways it is doing this is by working closely with the Ministry of Justice.
According to the spokesman, it is working to expedite trials and expand on existing parole and bail conditions, as well as transferring prisoners between prisons to ensure no single facility becomes overcrowded. In addition, older prisons are being renovated, and new ones are being built.
Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, described the ICRC’s praise as based on its clear understanding of the government’s commitment to reducing overcrowding in prisons.
He believed that the most important step is the alleviation of the congested court system, particularly for cases related to drugs, traffic offences and civil matters.
Sam Ath also noted that more than half of the Kingdom’s detainees are being held in relation to drug cases.
“Unfortunately, despite the government’s best efforts, overcrowding remains a concern,” he said.
He encouraged the government to address the issue through mechanisms like community-based labour penalties instead of imprisonment, or early parole for those are near the end of their sentence. He also suggested that it consider early releases or reduced sentences for those are being held for what he called ‘human rights’ or ‘political’ cases.*