February 2012

Our babies are doing well

We are pleased to report that both the babies we have supported with formula (baby milk), because their mothers' are HIV-positive are doing well. They are both healthy and gaining weight the way they should. We will continue supporting them until they are big enough to eat solid foods. Carol Chomba, CPI Resident Representative, keeps in close contact with a female prison officer, Lyness, who instructs Carol when to buy formula. Carol then asks Anne to transfer the money, whenever there is need. The process takes no more than about 24 hrs., and we ensure the babies don't go hungry.

December 2012

PRISCCA, the partner of UBUMI PRISONS INITIATIVE, wins  Human Rights Award

PRISCCA, the partner of UBUMI on the ground has won the much deserved Human Rights Award by the National Commission for Human Rights. Their press release follows:   Prisons Care and Counselling Association [PRISCCA], a lead prisons based civil society organisation that over the past 12 years has been working to supplement and compliment efforts by the Zambian Government toward the improvement of the livelihood of inmates and the 87 correctional facilities in the country has this morning been awarded with a medal for “outstanding contribution towards the development, promotion and protection of human rights in Zambia.”

The medal has been awarded to PRISCCA by the Zambia Human Rights Commission in a colourful ceremony held at the five-star Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, on December 10, 2012.

Receiving the award presented to only five   CSOs working in the area of human rights  and implementation of high level advocacy in Zambia through Zambia’s former Chief Justice Annel Silungwe, currently Chairperson of the Constitution Review Making Process, PRISCCA Executive Director Godfrey Malembeka thanked the Zambia Human Rights Commission for being a good mother in the promotion of human rights in the country. He added on that the award had actually been given to one of the children of Human Rights Commission.

Godfrey, a former prisoner himself, pledged to advocate against human rights violations and lobby the involvement of policy makers to develop remedial measures; and to develop concrete responses to human rights violations in Zambian prisons with focus on marginalised and vulnerable communities such as prisoners and circumstantial children. He said the award would facilitate greater knowledge sharing and networking among organizations involved in addressing human rights in the country.