22 December 2011 -Aiming to raise prison capacity and state security, Western Equatoria State graduated today its first batch of recruit officers since South Sudan's independence in July.

Held at Freedom Square in the capital Yambio, the ceremony was attended Director General of National Prisons Service General Abel Markoi Wol, State Governor Joseph Bagasi Bakasoro, UNMISS representatives and hundreds of town residents.

The one-year training session, conducted by the South Sudan Directorate of Prison Services in close collaboration with UNMISS' Corrections and Advisory as well as Human Right sections, was attended by 288 prison recruit officers drawn from the state's 10 counties.

Emphasizing that developing human resources at all levels was a pre-requisite for any nation in delivering efficient services to its people, Gen. Wol said his office would continue to train all staff members in management, security and good governance.

"Prison is a full time vocation dedicated to the duty of protecting society through systematic interventions in crime control and prevention processes," the director general said. "It is a process developed over time which treats crime and its causation, with an aim to protect society."

The Director reminded the officers to uphold discipline as well as standard work ethics and serve the community enthusiastically, wherever they were deployed.

"I would like to remind you that you should avoid the practices of tribalism, discrimination and receiving bribes and keep yourself from the danger of HIV/AIDS," Gen. Wol said.

He added that prisons must abide by principles of justice expressed through belief in the inherent human rights of all people, dignity and worth of individuals, fairness and equality before the law and honesty, openness and integrity when managing prisoners and detainees.

Governor Bakasoro urged officers to put citizens first and serve the community wholeheartedly with the utmost discipline. "As new members of the prison service, I welcome you on board and at the same time I caution you to observe high discipline, respect of one another, commitment, hard work and honesty."