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2.There are currently four infants aged less than 15 months in the prison, incarcerated with their mothers. Some of them were born there, some arrived shortly after their birth. In June 2007, two babies were born there without any gynecological support of any description being available to their mothers.

3. See Mahalia's experiences (under the link for Experiences, above) as well as the full dossier of the project (available via written request, e-mail or by coming to the headquarters of the association). 

The setting up and completion of projects

In the first instance, we have identified a series of actions that we can take to improve the living conditions in prison. We have subdivided these into projects and prioritised them.1 Here, we give you a brief overview (a full description will be available for download shortly):

Francis and the women's section ©AOE

 FRANCIS

This project is named after one of the infants currently in prison2. Francis is 14 months old. He arrived in prison at the age of one month with his mother. We found his case particularly moving, due to his inability to either laugh or cry.

Refurbishing the women and children's section is our priority. At the moment, they are at the most risk (cancer, leukemia, loss of eyesight, etc). The ventilation system is fully inadequate, even though it is here that meals are prepared for several hundred prisoners. A fire 3

is kept going day and night. The materials that are burnt are often not without health risks. As a result, toxic fumes are produced and prisoners have no way of getting away from them.

Worse still, open drains run through the section. The water and waste lie stagnant, causing an increase in malaria. Our top priority for hygiene is to drain these channels and seal them.

Finally, there are only two showers and three toilets for around 130 women and infants. The majority suffer from cystitis, various mycoses, due to the lack of basic sanitary facilities.