Yei Prison Officers Complete UN Training on Inmate Welfare

(YEI) – A group of prison officers in Yei River County has completed a three day training course organised by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), focused on improving prison management and promoting human rights within correctional facilities.

The training, held in late June 2025, aimed to build the skills and knowledge of prison staff to better manage inmates and support their rehabilitation. The programme emphasised professional conduct, respect for prisoner rights, and reintegration of former inmates into society.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Yei River County Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme urged the participants to apply their training in their daily work.

“The knowledge you have received should guide you to provide proper services to prisoners, helping them transform from offenders into responsible citizens,” he said.

Commissioner Taban also thanked UNMISS for its continued support to the county’s institutions, stating that the skills gained would help strengthen the local prison service.

Representing UNMISS, Atta Bengana reminded officers that the aim of the training was to ensure that prisoners are treated with care and respect. He said such treatment is essential for their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into communities after their release.

He further encouraged the participants to pass on their knowledge to colleagues who were unable to attend the sessions, saying, “You are now ambassadors of this training.”

Participant Mary Ropani, one of the trained officers, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity and thanked UNMISS for its commitment to correctional reform.

“We are grateful for this training. It has given us new ideas and new motivation. I hope all of us will use what we have learned to improve the lives of inmates and contribute positively to our community,” she said.

The training concluded with the awarding of certificates to all attendees.