HR in the News: Grim Conditions in Zambia Prisons

Just recently, a report was released by the Human Rights Watch, also working with the Prisons Care and Counseling Facility and AIDS and Rights in Alliance for Southern Africa, in Zambia over the prison conditions there. One of the largest problems with the prison is overcrowding. In one of the prisons that is supposed to only hold a maximum of 400 people, there are upwards of 1700 people being held there and in horrible conditions. They are packed into the prison cell like pigs and are unable to all lie down to sleep and thus sleep in shifts, still partly laying on top of each other. Solitary confinement includes being stripped naked and locked in a cell without windows for days in ankle deep water that is contaminated with excrement. There is also violence that occurs, lots of malnutrition due to lack of food and water, and disease spreading to the prisoners there. Another problem that arises is that many of those being held are innocent or have to wait years before their day in court. On top of that, the working conditions are like that of slave labor and the hierarchy of the prisoners adds to the violence and abuse already in place by the prison guards.
One of the reasons that is given for the lack of good conditions is the lack of attention and government funding that the prisons receive. Where the funding is already low, prison funds are being pushed aside and allocated to different places, leaving them without the necessary funding to better the conditions. They also do not have the muscle power to make the conditions better and would need volunteers to come and help as well. One of the ways that the report suggests to better the situation would be to allow a bail for lesser crimes that would help prevent overcrowding and would keep some of the innocent from having to spend years waiting for their day in trial. What other ideas could the prison employ to help better the situation for Zambia prisoners? Also, though the report has been filed, what will/should the Human Rights Watch do to act on the findings and how should they go about doing this? On top of that, how much will the government of Zambia have to step in as well to make the necessary changes, and how could funding and volunteers be attained to help make the necessary improvements?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/world/africa/28zambia.html