Improving Conditions for Juvenile Prisoners in Cameroon

Guy Hubert: Living life behind bars, Pascal is just one of the 85 juvenile
inmates doing time in Duala’s juvenile prison, here they live on top
of each other, and they sleep and wash in an area made for only 30
prisoners. An open sewer runs through their cell block and all the
mattresses are lice ridden. In the central prison, some boys are
forced to sleep on the floor.

Pascal is only 14 years old, he was arrested for stealing and
although he’s been here for over ten months, he has still not been
tried. Many of the boys are here for even lesser crimes such as
begging or smoking and unless they’re able to pay bribes, they too
wait months and sometimes even years for their day in Court.
Seventeen year old Bernard has been here for over three years, it
took two of those years for his case to get to Court and now with
nine months to go until the end of his sentence, he feels his lost on
to life.

Bernard: My mother was coming to visit and I had a lot to seek and the last
time they told me she was dead, I was very depressed because she
was my only support here. Since then, nobody comes here to visit
me.

Guy Hubert: Apart from the inhumane conditions, minors are also vulnerable to
physical and sexual abuse by older inmates. HIV and AIDS are
rampant but UNICEF in partnership with Cameroon’s ministry of
social affairs is working to improve conditions for minors in the
countries prisons. Televisions, educational materials, books, beds
and blankets have been provided while UNICEF trains judicial
police and prison officers on the correct treatment of children in
conflict of the law. But the ultimate aim is to get Cameroon’s
children out of prison and into rehabilitation centers. Preparation is
under way for one such center in Duala and will provide schooling,
workshops and most importantly space.

While they will be under constant surveillance with one social
worker come order for every ten boys, they at least will have a
better chance at life. Back in Duala prison, Bernard’s painting
depicts a freedom he hasn’t known for three long years. Eventually
he will have that both have an education and practical skills, life on
the outside looks bleak. This is Guy Hubert in Duala Cameroon
reporting for UNICEF television, unite for children.