Date: 03/07/2003
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Skosana: Dinner for SADC Ministers of corrections and prison services
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BEN SKOSANA, MP, AT THE GALA DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE VISITING MINISTERS OF THE SADC REGION RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTIONAL AND PRISON SERVICES, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, 3 July 2003
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps
Commissioners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Tonight is the culmination of two days of discussions between Ministers responsible for Correctional and Prison Services within the SADC region for the purpose of establishing a means of strengthening our cooperation in tackling issues of common concern in this area.
The fact that we were able to meet at all is a first and very positive step towards reaching this goal as we were able to identify issues which equally affect all of us, especially in the realm of regional cooperation.
We confirmed that technical cooperation, human resource development and training, exchange of security information exchange of visits between our countries as well as penal reform are some of the priority areas which deserve attention in the context of regional cooperation.
The need to establish a common philosophy on development, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders as well as the establishment of national and regional instruments in relation to the transfer of foreign nationals were issues which we dealt with.
During our deliberations, a common thread emerged linking issues of common concern throughout the region and these included overcrowding in our prisons, the problem of health in prison and the slow pace of the criminal justice system in dispensing justice. In this regard we stressed the need for cooperation between the criminal justice partners both within countries and across the region.
It is our desire that action should be taken to ensure the full integration of the corrections and justice sector into the SADC Regional Indicative Programme. Until then, the meetings we just had will be followed up by regular similar meetings to be hosted by other SADC countries.
On the issue of the regional transfer of foreign nationals who are sentenced prisoners, we have established a team to begin to work towards a draft framework document for use in the development of legislation, Protocol and procedures to enable the transfer of sentenced foreign national prisoners to their country of origin within the region.
We are anxious to develop a common philosophy on correctional systems that will underlie cooperation within the region. Once this philosophy has been developed cooperation is required to develop an approach and capacity to ensure the implementation of the philosophy within the countries of this region.
This approach will consider international instruments, SADC protocols, including that on Mutual Legal Assistance, individual mission statements and approaches of countries on the purpose of the correctional system.
We were cognizant of the fact that we are subject to the United Nations Guidelines on the role of corrections in peacekeeping. As a result we have endorsed a process in which we shall explore how our correctional systems could contribute to peacekeeping in Africa through the running of detention centres and provision of support to countries emerging from war to establish effective correctional systems.
Our meeting agreed on the need to explore how correctional services can benefit from and popularise the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) which is a vehicle for the economic emancipation of the African Continent.
Already the contribution of correctional services in poverty alleviation has been applauded. It is realized either in the form of the deployment of prisoner labour or the provision of surrounding poor communities with goods such as agricultural produce. It has been hailed as a significant contribution to economic development. This enables Governments to use the money, which they would otherwise spend on these poor communities, to finance other development projects.
In noting the situation on HIV/AIDS in prisons it was deemed imperative that consideration of the regional health challenges, particularly opportunistic diseases such as TB and malaria should be undertaken in addition to existing policies and strategies in combating HIV/AIDS in prisons.
The first meeting of Minister responsible for Correctional and Prison Services in the SADC region is a prelude to greater happenings within our various portfolios and it is imperative and incumbent upon us to keep the momentum at a high level. As some of my colleagues mentioned during our deliberations there have been talk shops held all over the place with nothing tangible coming out of them. Unfortunately these talk shops take a huge amount of resources, which could have been of benefit to other sections of society. We have to establish structures that will ensure the speedy implementation of our decisions and the monitoring and evaluations of such actions.
In summary, we shall take action to cooperate closely with other departments in our various countries in order to reach our goals in relation to addressing the case flow through the justice system, including arrest, investigation, remand processes, sentencing policy, parole policy, overcrowding, utilization of prison labour to contribute towards self-sufficiency and the rehabilitation of offenders. These issues are of cardinal importance to us because we are at the tail end of the criminal justice system.
In conclusion I would like to express my profound appreciation for the honour your have bestowed on us Honourable Ministers and distinguished delegates for having accepted our invitation to attend this inaugural meeting.
As a young democracy compared to all the SADC members, we feel that our cooperation within the context of corrections in this region, will accelerate our growth process together, to enable this region to provide a shining example on how corrections should be regarded in the rest of Africa, and, indeed in the whole world.
As you prepare to leave for your various countries we wish you a safe journey, and hope that upon your arrival at your various destinations we shall continue to keep in touch at bilateral and multi-lateral levels so that we can together develop African solutions to African challenges. God bless you all.
I thank you.
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Skosana: Dinner for SADC Ministers of corrections and prison services
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BEN SKOSANA, MP, AT THE GALA DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE VISITING MINISTERS OF THE SADC REGION RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTIONAL AND PRISON SERVICES, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, 3 July 2003
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps
Commissioners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Tonight is the culmination of two days of discussions between Ministers responsible for Correctional and Prison Services within the SADC region for the purpose of establishing a means of strengthening our cooperation in tackling issues of common concern in this area.
The fact that we were able to meet at all is a first and very positive step towards reaching this goal as we were able to identify issues which equally affect all of us, especially in the realm of regional cooperation.
We confirmed that technical cooperation, human resource development and training, exchange of security information exchange of visits between our countries as well as penal reform are some of the priority areas which deserve attention in the context of regional cooperation.
The need to establish a common philosophy on development, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders as well as the establishment of national and regional instruments in relation to the transfer of foreign nationals were issues which we dealt with.
During our deliberations, a common thread emerged linking issues of common concern throughout the region and these included overcrowding in our prisons, the problem of health in prison and the slow pace of the criminal justice system in dispensing justice. In this regard we stressed the need for cooperation between the criminal justice partners both within countries and across the region.
It is our desire that action should be taken to ensure the full integration of the corrections and justice sector into the SADC Regional Indicative Programme. Until then, the meetings we just had will be followed up by regular similar meetings to be hosted by other SADC countries.
On the issue of the regional transfer of foreign nationals who are sentenced prisoners, we have established a team to begin to work towards a draft framework document for use in the development of legislation, Protocol and procedures to enable the transfer of sentenced foreign national prisoners to their country of origin within the region.
We are anxious to develop a common philosophy on correctional systems that will underlie cooperation within the region. Once this philosophy has been developed cooperation is required to develop an approach and capacity to ensure the implementation of the philosophy within the countries of this region.
This approach will consider international instruments, SADC protocols, including that on Mutual Legal Assistance, individual mission statements and approaches of countries on the purpose of the correctional system.
We were cognizant of the fact that we are subject to the United Nations Guidelines on the role of corrections in peacekeeping. As a result we have endorsed a process in which we shall explore how our correctional systems could contribute to peacekeeping in Africa through the running of detention centres and provision of support to countries emerging from war to establish effective correctional systems.
Our meeting agreed on the need to explore how correctional services can benefit from and popularise the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) which is a vehicle for the economic emancipation of the African Continent.
Already the contribution of correctional services in poverty alleviation has been applauded. It is realized either in the form of the deployment of prisoner labour or the provision of surrounding poor communities with goods such as agricultural produce. It has been hailed as a significant contribution to economic development. This enables Governments to use the money, which they would otherwise spend on these poor communities, to finance other development projects.
In noting the situation on HIV/AIDS in prisons it was deemed imperative that consideration of the regional health challenges, particularly opportunistic diseases such as TB and malaria should be undertaken in addition to existing policies and strategies in combating HIV/AIDS in prisons.
The first meeting of Minister responsible for Correctional and Prison Services in the SADC region is a prelude to greater happenings within our various portfolios and it is imperative and incumbent upon us to keep the momentum at a high level. As some of my colleagues mentioned during our deliberations there have been talk shops held all over the place with nothing tangible coming out of them. Unfortunately these talk shops take a huge amount of resources, which could have been of benefit to other sections of society. We have to establish structures that will ensure the speedy implementation of our decisions and the monitoring and evaluations of such actions.
In summary, we shall take action to cooperate closely with other departments in our various countries in order to reach our goals in relation to addressing the case flow through the justice system, including arrest, investigation, remand processes, sentencing policy, parole policy, overcrowding, utilization of prison labour to contribute towards self-sufficiency and the rehabilitation of offenders. These issues are of cardinal importance to us because we are at the tail end of the criminal justice system.
In conclusion I would like to express my profound appreciation for the honour your have bestowed on us Honourable Ministers and distinguished delegates for having accepted our invitation to attend this inaugural meeting.
As a young democracy compared to all the SADC members, we feel that our cooperation within the context of corrections in this region, will accelerate our growth process together, to enable this region to provide a shining example on how corrections should be regarded in the rest of Africa, and, indeed in the whole world.
As you prepare to leave for your various countries we wish you a safe journey, and hope that upon your arrival at your various destinations we shall continue to keep in touch at bilateral and multi-lateral levels so that we can together develop African solutions to African challenges. God bless you all.
I thank you.
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)
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