MONUC organised, from 20 to 22 November 2008, a training seminar designed to reinforce the capacity of penitentiary police for the Kassapa prison in the town of Lubumbashi, in Katanga province.

11 officers participated in the training which focused on issues related to prison security operations, the rules governing prison operations, the upholding of human rights in the treatment of prisoners, as well as the basic principles regarding the treatment of delinquents.

The Rule of Law section of MONUC/Lubumbashi, along with MONUC police and the Human Rights section, helped conduct the three days of training, in the presence of the prison's Director and his Chief Security Officer.

The training programme, which included a practical part, aimed to enable the participating prison guards to better implement prison management procedures.

Three final year students also attended the seminar as part of research work for their term papers.

MONUC's Rule of Law unit gives advice to other divisions of the UN Mission and coordinates activities relating to Rule of Law. It also addresses issues relating to security and protection of the individual against impunity. Additionally, the unit helps ensure that there are functional police investigative services, an impartial criminal justice system and the adequate correctional means in place.