The non-governmental organization SOS Prisonniers Gabon (SPG), led by former transitional deputy Lionel Engonga, has launched an advocacy tour in Lambaréné, the capital of Gabon's Moyen-Ogooué province. The tour is part of the "Dignity in Detention" project, which aims to strengthen dialogue with administrative and judicial authorities on respecting the rights of detained individuals and improving their conditions. The tour will cover five provinces, including Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Nyanga, Woleu-Ntem, and Haut-Ogooué.
During the Lambaréné stop, the SPG delegation met with the central prison director and his team. Discussions focused on prison overcrowding, respect for visitation rights, the use of preventive detention, and the need to strengthen the role of the judge responsible for enforcing sentences. The delegation also distributed food kits and hygiene products to inmates. This advocacy effort seeks to present SPG's advocacy note and recommendations to public officials, while introducing the objectives of the "Dignity in Detention" project and actions already taken.
The "Dignity in Detention" project is implemented by SOS Prisonniers Gabon in partnership with Agir ensemble pour les droits humains (AEDH), with financial support from the European Union in Gabon. The tour includes meetings with penitentiary establishment officials and judicial chain actors to promote exchanges on the realities of the prison environment. A solidarity component accompanies this approach, with the distribution of food and hygiene products to inmates in the various establishments concerned.
SOS Prisonniers Gabon expressed gratitude to Justice Minister Augustin Émane, Keeper of the Seals, and officials from the Penitentiary Security, for their availability, support, and authorization to conduct this activity in a prison environment. The organization aims to improve detention conditions and promote respect for the rights of detained individuals. The advocacy tour is a key component of this effort, enabling SPG to engage with authorities and stakeholders on the ground.
The Lambaréné stop marks the beginning of a series of meetings and activities planned across the five provinces. SPG's delegation will engage with local authorities, prison officials, and judicial actors to discuss the challenges and realities faced by inmates. By presenting its advocacy note and recommendations, SPG seeks to contribute to improved detention conditions and enhanced respect for human rights in Gabon's prisons.
Overcrowding, visitation rights, and the use of preventive detention are pressing concerns in Gabon's prisons. The advocacy tour aims to address these issues and promote a more humane and rights-based approach to detention. By engaging with local stakeholders and authorities, SPG hopes to create a positive impact and contribute to meaningful change in the lives of inmates.
The partnership between SOS Prisonniers Gabon and Agir ensemble pour les droits humains (AEDH), supported by the European Union, underscores the importance of collaboration in promoting human rights and improving detention conditions. The advocacy tour is a critical component of this effort, enabling SPG to engage with stakeholders and promote positive change in Gabon's prison system.
Key points
- The advocacy tour aims to strengthen dialogue with administrative and judicial authorities on respecting the rights of detained individuals and improving their conditions.
- The tour covers five provinces, including Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Nyanga, Woleu-Ntem, and Haut-Ogooué.
- The "Dignity in Detention" project is implemented by SOS Prisonniers Gabon in partnership with Agir ensemble pour les droits humains (AEDH), with financial support from the European Union in Gabon.
