MNHRC inspects Mawlamyine Jail, Youth Training Centre, Thaton Jail, Police Lock-ups, and Court Lock-ups

AN inspection team led by Members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), U Than Win, U Ohn Kh­ine, Dr Swe Swe Aung conducted an inspection visit to the Mawlamyine Jail, Mawlamyine Youth Training Centre, Police Lock-ups and Court Lock-ups in Mawlamyine Township, Mon State, on 17 August 2026 and visit to Thaton Prison and Tha­ton Myoma Police Lock-ups on 18 August 2026 under Section 43 and 44 of the Commission’s Law.

During the inspec­tion of Mawlamyine Jail and Thaton prison, the team met prisoners in the dormitories and enquired about the fundamental rights entitled to prison­ers are enjoyable or not, including the matters re­lating to an adequate food supply, access to health­care services, the avail­ability of sufficient puri­fied drinking water and water for domestic use, the situation of allowing family visits, the receipt of items issued by the prison and those sent by family members, the provisions of physical exercise and sport activities, which include formal educa­tion and basic literacy education covering for read and write, vocational training. In addition, the team enquired whether there were instances of human rights violations or torture by prison offi­cials and fellow inmates, and the right to practice religion in accordance with their faith. Moreo­ver, the team conducted private and confidential interviews with prisoners who requested to meet separately, and recorded their statements. The Commission donated knowledgeable books for prisoners to read and study through prison au­thorities.

Following the in­terviews, the inspection team conducted a phys­ical tour to inspect var­ious facilities, including the dormitories, the med­ical clinic, the library, the kitchen, the food ware­house, water purifiers, utility reservoirs, and the sanitation of both inter­nal and external sewage systems.

During the inspec­tion visits to the Maw­lamyine Youth Training Centre, the MNHRC inspection team exam­ined the institutional measures implemented to provide psychosocial rehabilitation and voca­tional training for chil­dren and young persons under care, aiming to alle­viate psychological trau­ma, social stigma, and loss of self-confidence, the access to health­care services, provision of food, access to clean drinking water, dormito­ry arrangements, and the accessibility of National Scrutiny Cards, mental. Furthermore, the team observed rehabilitation efforts aimed at fostering the youths’ mental and physical development through behavioural ref­ormation to ensure their successful reintegration into society, as well as access to education and vocational training, the right to contact and rein­tegration with their family members, and the right to freedom of religion.

During the inspec­tion of the Police Lock-ups and Court Lock-ups, the inspection team in­terviewed detainees and examined facility condi­tions. The team inspect­ed the status of detainees during the remand peri­od, whether any torture or ill-treatment occurred while in custody or during investigation, opportuni­ties to meet with family members, arrangements for food and accommo­dations, the disposal of sewage and overall clean­liness of the facilities, the ventilation system, as well as access to meet with family members and defence lawyers during the court appearances.

The inspection team will send its findings and recommendations to the relevant department for necessary action under the Commission’s law. — MNHRC