UNMIL just released their quarterly human rights report. It focuses on the human rights situation in detention facilities. You can download the report by clicking on a link from this page.

The report notes that:

“In some locations, the absence of authorised detention facilities has prompted some officials to construct or use private buildings as illegal holding cells. This leads to problems associated with the absence of trained and qualified personnel and the failure to meet minimum detention conditions. In other cases, suspects had to be released on bail due to the absence of facilities.

A private building was used as a holding cell for the Owensgrove Magistrates’ Court, Grand Bassa County. On 20 November, the County Attorney advised HROs that since the Ownsgrove cell is unauthorised, no corrections officer can be assigned to it. At the time of HROs’ visit, a local resident was paid by the Magistrate to be present at the cell and keep the key.”