A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

y public order or authorities should have that detention controlled by properly and legally
constructed regulations. Such regulations should provide a number of basic safeguards,
all of which should apply from
the moment when they are first
deprived of their liberty. These
include: a) the right that a relative
or other appropriate third person
is notified of the detention; b) the
right to an independent medical
examination; c) the right of access
to a lawyer; and d) notification
of the above rights in a language
that the person deprived of their
liberty understands. 238
• The Government of Liberia, with
the full support of international
partners including the U.N.
Mission in Liberia, should ensure that basic health and sanitation practices are enforced at
the level of each prison. Specifically:
o Primary health care should be a priority. Prisoners should be allowed to take
responsibility for their health.
o Each prisoner must have a confidential clinical health record giving all essential
details of the individual’s health profile. It should record all incidences of illness and
treatment. It should contain a fitness certificate on discharge.
o Health examinations and treatment should be conducted in privacy.
o Discipline regarding maintenance of hygiene and sanitation in institutional
environment must be enforced.
o Professionally trained personnel, diagnostic facilities, and drugs should be available
in adequate quantities at all times.
o Health education and counseling should form an integral part of the treatment for
all health care management.
o There should be a public health program for staff and prisoners alike to prevent
disease. 239
Security Sector: Treatment of Juvenile Offenders
• Detention and incarceration of juveniles should be carried out in full compliance with the
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The
Beijing Rules) 240 and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of
their Liberty. 241
441
Chapter Fourteen
Potential Implementation Strategy:
Kadoma Declaration
Relative to ensuring justice with scarce resources, the
Kadoma Declaration on Community Service Orders in
Africa notes that the use of prison should be strictly
limited as a measure of last resort. Prisons represent
a waste of scarce resources and human potential. In
consideration of Liberian tradition and the country’s
development needs, community service should be
effectively implemented and supervised and involve a
program of work where the offender is required to carry
out a number of hours of voluntary work for the benefit
of the community. 237