Women and Juvenile Rehabilitation Center opens at Monrovia Central Prison

UNMIL Officer-In-Charge Waldemar Vrey today, 8 June called for speedy trials to tackle the high number of convicts in prison currently on pre-trial detention. Speaking at opening of a juvenile and women rehabilitation facility at the Monrovia Central Prison, Monrovia, Vrey urged courts to utilize substitute solutions within the law to resolve challenges of pre-trial detentions. “There is a good indication that women and juvenile will benefit from this project. The number of people serving pre-trial jail is unacceptably high. People should not be brought to court, then locked up. The law allows for alternatives. We are also seeing people serving longer periods in detention that the jail term that is finally handed,” said Vrey. Also present were UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Oluremi Sogunro, Deputy Justice Minister Harriette Badio and Monrovia Central Prison Superintendent Marca J. Marvey Sirleaf.