The Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Mme Abdourahamane Amina, presided over a workshop in Zinder on September 21, 2026, aimed at strengthening the capacity of prison staff. The workshop, organized with the support of the UNDP and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, brought together key actors from eight regions. Its objective is to improve the care of detained persons and enhance mechanisms for their social and economic reintegration.
The workshop is part of the Ministry's Annual Work Plan 2026 and Priority Action Plan, which aims to improve detention conditions in prisons. Mme Abdourahamane Amina explained that the training is crucial for the implementation of a social and psychological assistance program to facilitate the reintegration of detainees. The program is also expected to develop an adapted monitoring system.
The Secretary General recalled the provisions of the law of March 31, 2017, which determines the fundamental principles of the penitentiary regime in Niger. Specifically, Article 38 of the law provides for the creation of a social service within each prison establishment. Mme Abdourahamane Amina emphasized that the training will enable participants to understand the functioning of social action within the prison administration and its interactions with human rights structures.
The workshop is expected to equip participants with basic professional techniques necessary for the effective accomplishment of their missions. Mme Abdourahamane Amina urged participants to pay particular attention to the different modules of the training and to make the most of the knowledge acquired in the exercise of their functions. She also stressed the need for social workers to carry out their missions in accordance with the texts in force and human rights principles.
Mme Sidibé Kany Roseline, representing the UNDP, welcomed the holding of the workshop, considering that the strengthening of prison staff capacities is an important lever for better care of detainees. She emphasized the importance of social work, observation, and interview skills to better understand the needs of persons deprived of liberty and adapt their care.
The UNDP representative reaffirmed her institution's commitment to continuing its support for the Ministry of Justice and its partners to contribute to a more effective prison system that respects human dignity and promotes the social reintegration of detainees. The workshop is part of a broader effort to strengthen penitentiary social services and improve mechanisms for the care and reintegration of detainees.
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, with the support of the UNDP and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aims to contribute to a more effective and humane prison system. The workshop is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and its impact is expected to be felt in the lives of detainees and the broader community.
Key points
- The workshop aims to improve the care of detained persons and enhance mechanisms for their social and economic reintegration.
- The training is part of the Ministry's efforts to improve detention conditions in prisons and implement a social and psychological assistance program.
- The UNDP has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Ministry of Justice and its partners to contribute to a more effective prison system.
