By KASONDE KASONDE –
CIVIL Society organisations (CSOs) have appealed for the amendment of Section 56 of the Prisons Act that provides that a child of a woman prisoner should go in with the mother but without providing for a separate food ration for the child.
AGE Justice International Executive Director Phillimon Phiri said the Prisons Act should be amended so that necessities for the child are supplied by the prison authorities, Social Welfare and Mother and Child Health Departments.
Speaking yesterday at a dialogue meeting with Civil Society organisations and other stakeholders on conditions for female prisoners and their circumstantial children, Mr Phiri said should the
Prison department take up the responsibility of children; there should be specific funding for them.
Mr Phiri said the money should go towards provision of necessities and clothing for the prisoners’ children such as formula milk, nappies, as the absence of such provisions infringe on the human rights of the child.
AGE Justice International Central Province Outreach Officer, Jabes Phiri said the institution was committed to finding a lasting solution to the challenges of female inmates and their circumstantial children.
Mr Phiri said women who were sent to prison while pregnant subjected their children to serve the prison sentence with their parents against their human rights.
He said the dialogue meeting for civil society organisations was meant to bring out recommendations that would help change the scenario in female sections of prisons.
Mr Phiri said it was an opportunity for the nation to come up with resolutions that would help enhance the provision of quality services to children who will find themselves in prison.
He further noted that the dialogue meeting was non-political but aimed at looking at the best options for the children serving prison sentences with their mothers.
Mr Phiri charged that all children regardless of the circumstances must be given an opportunity to enjoy their human rights in full.