Nursing mums in prisons: PRAWA seeks N/Assembly’s intervention

In a statement yesterday by its Deputy Director Yinka Lawal, PRAWA urged the lawmakers to amend the penal laws to provide for alternative sentences for nursing mothers who have committed crimes.According to PRAWA, there are about 69 innocent babies serving prison terms with their mothers in the country’s 234 prisons.“This situation is not only unjust […]

In a statement yesterday by its Deputy Director Yinka Lawal, PRAWA urged the lawmakers to amend the penal laws to provide for alternative sentences for nursing mothers who have committed crimes.
According to PRAWA, there are about 69 innocent babies serving prison terms with their mothers in the country’s 234 prisons.
“This situation is not only unjust and illegal but also against the letters and principles of all international human rights instruments that Nigeria is a signatory,” it said.
The human rights NGO therefore begged the lawmakers to explore the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill currently before them to make provisions for alternatives to imprisonment to become part of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.