A new sewing workshop set up in Roomieh with two others planned for Tripoli and Baabda women prisons

Within the framework of the project entitled “developing penal justice in Lebanon”, implemented by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC, with funding from the European Union, Minister of Justice Chafiq Kortbawi, launched this month the start of operation of the new sewing workshop at Roomieh prison.  Preparations are underway to set up two similar workshops in the Tripoli and Baabda prisons for women with a view to have them ready for operation shortly.
The new workshop aims at producing basic goods for prisoners and providing them with work opportunities and income.  In addition to the contribution of all the stakeholders listed above, the American Embassy in Beirut donated the sewing machines whilst the UNODC took the responsibility of rehabilitating the workshop facilities and provided logistical support, raw material and training for inmates in addition to the overall supervision of work. To be noted that production will be distributed within the health kit given to each inmate upon his registration in the project.
To be reminded, that Minister Kortbawi kicked off the project back in September 2013 with the creation of an administrative committee to run the workshop.  The Committee is entrusted with overall decision making as well as overseeing all matters to ensure proper implementation of the project including payment of workers.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 17 February 2014