By Moses Magadza in Johannesburg

The Vice-President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Hon. Sylvia Lucas, has called for stronger parliamentary oversight of prisons to safeguard human rights, prevent disease outbreaks and promote justice across the region.

Speaking at the opening of a virtual consultation on the development of a SADC Model Law on Prison Oversight on Wednesday, Hon. Lucas said the initiative was timely and rooted in the region’s commitment to building humane, accountable and health-conscious correctional systems.

“Across our region, prisons tell stories that touch the conscience of our nations; stories of overcrowding, underfunding, and untold human resilience. They remind us that even behind bars, human dignity must never be lost,” the South African lawmaker said.

She stressed that prison oversight was far more than an administrative requirement.

“Oversight is not just a technical function. It is an act of democracy, compassion, accountability, and public-health protection,” she declared.

She warned that weak oversight creates fertile ground for disease outbreaks that can spread beyond prison walls. Effective monitoring, she said, could save lives by ensuring that “facilities are adequate, ventilation is sufficient, and that communicable diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), COVID-19, and other infections are prevented and effectively managed.”

The Vice-President linked prison oversight directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

“By reducing the spread of TB and other infectious diseases in prisons, we are contributing directly to the SDGs,” she explained.

She highlighted the SADC PF’s strong record in developing “soft law” instruments that drive real change and said the model laws have long served as blueprints for national reform.

“Some may ask why we develop model laws. They are not binding. That is true, but they are powerful. They capture what we, as a region, agree should be the standard; a shared vision of justice, fairness, and good governance,” she stated.

She cited the Model Law on HIV and AIDS, Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage, Model Law on Gender-Based Violence, and Model Law on Public Finance Management as examples that have inspired legislative change across Member States.

“Each of these laws was born through wide consultation,” she noted adding, “We believe that laws made with the people, for the people, are the ones that truly endure.”

Hon. Lucas reaffirmed that the Model Law on Prison Oversight will be grounded in international and regional human-rights instruments including the UN Convention Against Torture, its Optional Protocol, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“Human rights in prison are a matter of health rights. Every person, regardless of their circumstance, is entitled to dignity, safety, and medical care. Adequate facilities, sanitation, nutrition, and access to healthcare are not luxuries. They are obligations under international law and prerequisites for justice.”

She added that parliamentary oversight ensures that “budget allocations are sufficient to maintain decent facilities, healthcare services, and disease-prevention measures including TB screening, isolation facilities, and continuity of care.”

The Vice-President urged participants, including health professionals, human-rights experts, and correctional officials, to contribute their experiences and insights to enrich the draft model law.

“We are not here to talk about people. We are here to talk with them. Your experiences, your insights, and your ideas will make the law richer, more practical, and more humane. This is your law, a framework that should work for the people of SADC, not just for policymakers,” she said.

She paid tribute to the Technical Working Group on Prison Oversight, the Dullah Omar Institute, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), and other partners for their expertise, as well as the SADC PF Secretariat for “keeping the momentum alive.”

Hon. Lucas appealed to parliamentarians across SADC to take an active role in shaping the law and promoting accountability.

“Oversight begins with us. We are the custodians of accountability and the bridge between the people and their governments,” she said.

-Moses Magadza, PhD, is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC Parliamentary Forum.