UNMIL has handed over a newly renovated female cell to the staff of the Voinjama Central Prison and its female inmates. Human Rights and Protection Officer in the county, lstvan Lipniczki, said that the handover of the facilities formed part of activities marking the celebration of the International Day of Human Rights.

The female cell at the Voinjama Central Prison had been vandalized during a 2010 violent incident that engulfed Voinjama, and inmates had lived under unhygienic conditions ever since.

Lipniczki said that the renovation had been funded by the Human Rights and Protections Section and included external and internal painting, installation of mosquito screens, protective shields on the windows, fixing the steel iron security and the bathroom doors, and providing hygiene and cleaning materials to the prison, including brooms, buckets, antiseptic disinfectant liquids, toothbrushes and toothpastes and laundry soaps. The project cost was put at US$ 450.

The acting Prison Superintendent, Moses Saah, thanked UNMIL and called on all philanthropists as well as local and international non-governmental organizations for additional support.

Hellen Chikambi, Correction Advisory Unit Monitor in Lofa, said the renovated cell would provide a safer and more hygienic living environment for the female inmates. She also urged the Ministry of Justice to provide funds for rehabilitating the rest of the prison.