Goma, 9 March 2011 – This day was unlike any other at the Muzenze central prison in Goma. The reception area was jam packed and among them, Ms. Hiroute Gebre Sallasie, head of the office of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in Goma, the provincial Minister of Justice, the public prosecutor and a dozen female detainees. Their presence was twofold: firstly, MONUSCO female staff was making donations to female prisoners, and secondly, three of the female inmates were to be granted provisional release.

For several weeks, a committee of MONUSCO female staff had been pleading with the judicial authorities for the release of Muzenze prison female inmates who were held under inhumane and degrading conditions. The 16 women detainees lack almost everything and have been detained beyond the legal period without appearing in court.

As a result of this advocacy effort, three female inmates who had been in detention for several months for such minor offences as assault and battery were provisionally released.

Ms. Sellasie explained that she and her colleagues were trying to help restore human dignity to these female prisoners, and also to help them regain hope and a sense of belonging.

While expressing satisfaction over the outcome of this operation, the public prosecutor and the provincial Justice Minister warned the women against committing other offences while on probation.

The ceremony was emotionally charged as the inmates broke into tears while receiving their release certificates from the Minister.

The remaining female prisoners received food and non-food items, consisting of mattresses, cooking utensils, buckets, cloth, shoes, rice, sugar, a cooking oil and other smaller gifts.

Sy Koumbo S. Gali/ MONUSCO