30 May 2014 - To educate prison officers about managing facilities and handling inmates, UNMISS today concluded a two-week supervisory course in the Eastern Equatoria capital Torit.

Some 20 non-commissioned officers of the South Sudan Prison Service attended the training.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, State Director Major General Willaim Deng Garang said the training was vital in equipping officers with the necessary knowledge and skills.

“Many of us come from a military background, with little or no knowledge in dealing with prisoners, making such training very crucial to our job,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries to teach their colleagues and use the knowledge they had acquired to change the prison.

UNMISS State Coordinator Hiroko Mosko said understanding how to take care of prison inmates and respecting their rights was a fundamental part of their jobs, adding that she hoped the course would help participants carry out their duties more effectively.

Participants said they had gained much from the, and hoped to put their new-found skills to use.

Sergeant Major Lilly Achan said, “We have learned about prison management, prisoner treatment and human rights, which are all useful to our job”.