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Forgotten
dignity
Even before political crisis gripped the country
in 2009, Madagascar was one of the poorest countries in the
world. With donors suspending most financial aid to the country,
the prison system — already in disrepair — was
hit hard. Madagascar’s detainees live in cramped, overcrowded
and unhealthy conditions, forgotten by the outside world.
As in many parts of the world, detention carries a heavy
stigma, for detainees and their families. Many in Madagascar’s
Antanimora prison, for example, have not seen their children
in more than ten years. For many families, there are too
many miles — and too much shame — associated
with the long, arduous trips to visit imprisoned relatives.
These photos by Guillaume Binet are a window into the daily
life in Antanimora prison, where regular ICRC and family
visits, along with other small steps such as building new
latrines and kitchens, are helping to restore the health
and dignity of all those on the inside. Text by the ICRC’s
Marie-Servane Desjonquères. |
More than 2,600 people are incarcerated at Antanimora
Penitentiary, a facility designed to house 800 detainees.
In each building, several levels have been erected
in order to accommodate the high number of detainees.
Still, many sleep side by side on the floor, in severely
cramped conditions.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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Open areas between the living quarters give detainees
a chance to walk around, exercise and socialize within
boundaries marked in white powder by prison authorities.
In some of the prison yards, detainees have set up open
markets where those who have the means can buy food,
soap, cigarettes or get a haircut.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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Every afternoon, detainees
line up and wait to be served a meal composed simply
of boiled cassava roots. Some are able to buy food
and cook for themselves in their living quarters.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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When family members come to visit,
they are separated from detainees by two grills spaced
about two metres apart. The twice-a-week visits last
only ten minutes. Given that it takes some families
many hours to make the long journey to Antanimora,
many simply don’t visit their loved ones.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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Life is not easy for prison workers
either. In certain areas of the prison, one guard might
be responsible for overseeing 250 detainees. That means
making tough decisions on the spot, such as when inmates
get sick during the night and ask to be let out of
their cells.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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There are few organized activities
for those incarcerated at Antanimora, but religious
groups come regularly and detainees can drop in to
join the prayers and songs.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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In the women’s section of Antanimora, children
born behind bars can live with their mothers until they
are 18 months old, after which they are turned over to
relatives or care-giving associations that often bring
the children back to spend weekends with their mothers.
There is a special area of the prison for mothers and
infants, but it is also severely overcrowded.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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As in many detention facilities around the world,
the ICRC conducts regular visits with detainees in order
to talk with them, and authorities, about prison conditions
and the treatment of prisoners. In some cases, they also
have the chance to share news with family.
Photo: ©Guillaume Binet/ICRC |
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