Celebration Of International Human Rights Day: 10th December 2015
“I was in Prison and You Visited Me”(Matt:25:9)
The Justice and Peace Service (JPS) of the Archdiocese of Bamenda joined the international community to celebrate the International Human Rights Day 2015 with inmates and staff of some prisons within the Archdiocese under the theme; “Our Rights, Our Freedoms Always”.
In activities marking the commemoration of this day, the JPS made visits to the Ndop, Wum, Mbengwi, and Fundong Principal Prisons from the 2nd to the 12th of December 2015 andgave psychosocial and nutritional support to the inmates.
Then, in the peak celebration which took place on the 12th of December 2015 in the Fundong Principal Prison, for practical reasons, the JPS joined the superintendent, staff and inmates of this prison in their activities which began with a match pass from the Fundong Grand Stand through the major street of Fundong and back to the Prison Compound.
Fr. Noah of St. Jude’s Parish Fundong in his homily during Holy Mass in the prison, among other things, called on the inmates to have a change of heart like the Prodigal Son who realized his mistakes and turned back to his father and asked for forgiveness.
In colourful cultural activities animated by the inmates themselves, guests during this celebration, among them,the Senior State Counsel for Boyo who doubled as chairman for this occasion, the Company Commander of the Gendarmerie, the Commissioner of Police, and staff of the JPS were thrilled with songs and dances of the region.
The Superintendent of the Fundong Principal Prison, Fokum Kulituny Fonachu, in his speech during this celebration greatly appreciated the work of the Justice and Peace Service in a bit to harmonize prisons. He was particularly impressed with the skills development activity (a plantain and guava plantation) the Service has established in the prison, among other activities.
After a football match between the inmates, prizes were awardedto various inmates, and the celebrations ended with refreshment.
