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A five-day training on preventive prison monitoring has commenced in Freetown, aimed at strengthening efforts to curb torture and ill-treatment within detention facilities.
The training is being organized by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions in partnership with DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture. It is taking place from March 23 to 27, 2026, at Hotel Barmoi.
Participants include staff of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, alongside regional representatives and members of Prison Watch Sierra Leone. The training forms part of a broader three-year programme focused on strengthening legal and institutional frameworks across Africa to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment in criminal justice systems.
The workshop is designed to build participants’ practical knowledge and equip them with the necessary tools for effective monitoring of detention centres. It also seeks to enhance the capacity of national human rights institutions in countries such as Sierra Leone and Kenya, enabling them to conduct preventive oversight and ensure that detention conditions meet established human rights standards.
Speaking at the opening session, NANHRI Executive Director Gilbert Sebihogo underscored the significance of the initiative, stating that preventive monitoring goes beyond technical procedures and is fundamentally tied to safeguarding human dignity.
Organizers say the training will strengthen the ability of both human rights institutions and civil society actors to protect the rights of persons deprived of liberty, while promoting accountability and compliance with international human rights standards in detention facilities.
