Special groups

Special groups

Armed Forces

This project initially commenced in 1993, where modules and course materials were prepared in order to implement the programme. The programme began in 1998 and continued until June 2001.

Many lessons were learnt during the course of this project. It was perceived that the project was too narrow in scope and the target group was one that was susceptible to sudden and frequent changes in attitude towards the project. The Armed Services, which was the sector originally focused on, was liable to sudden and subjective changes. Alternative steps, therefore, to approach the project had to be taken.

Discussions between the CSHR and the ICRC led to the CSHR being involved in conducting human rights education programmes for the Army.

Police

This is a new component linked to the Armed Forces Project that was initiated with the same focus, as an ongoing programme. The problems, however, were new, flowing from the changed circumstances prevailing. In addition, the contacts established had grown cold with the lapse of 3 years. These contacts had to be revived and the credibility of the CSHR renewed. The project was extended annually, not going beyond the available funds.

Many lessons were learnt during this project period. Several programmes were conducted for Police Officers division wise and islandwide. Some divisional programmes were conducted in Kalutara, Mathugama, Kegalle, Anuradhapura and Tangalle. Other programmes targeted officers in charge of women’s & children’s desks in police stations who were trained in human rights regarding handling cases; Officers in Charge of respective Police Stations; and officers in charge of crime branches island wide, were trained. This component also ended on 30 June 2001.

Prisons

This component of the project commenced towards the end of 1999. Different groups such as jailors, guards and overseers, superintendents and assistant superintendents, female prison officers, female inmates of Welikada Prison, and convicted and remand prisoners of Matara prison were targeted through this component. The experience with the Prisons Department was encouraging, as the Department is aware and open about its shortcomings.

It is clear that changes within the Prisons Department cannot take place without the cooperation of other institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Courts of Law, Magistrates (as monitors of Prisons), the Police, the Unofficial Bar and Departments such as Customs and Excise, where there are mandatory provisions for imprisonment. All these organizations are not aware of the issues faced by the Prisons Department; i.e., as to whether the Prisons Department can cope with the never ceasing volume of prisoners/remandees funneled by them into the Prisons. This leads to the main problem of overcrowding in the Prisons.

Experience shows that the most cooperative of the sectors accessed under this programme was the Prisons Department.

Estate Workers and Mobilizers

The need for human rights programmes for the Estate Sector is identified, as this group is marginalized in relation to their rights. The CSHR, however, has, as a first step, already begun to reach mobilizers in NGOs who work closely in the plantation sector. While mobilizers will continue to be trained in human rights, the second group that will be reached in the estate sector is workers. These programmes will educate and make the workers on plantations aware of their rights as well as their responsibilities.

Media Personnel

Human rights awareness programmes for media persons have been carried out in the past. The need to educate media on the importance of human rights issues is essential, as readers/viewers are primarily informed through the media. Workshops/seminars are therefore, planned for Media personnel in order to inform them of the importance of providing an accurate view of a particular human rights situation. A primary objective of these programmes is to ensure that an impartial view of a situation is expressed to the public, where rights of certain parties are not violated.