European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi has reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at improving the welfare and dignity of prisoners in correctional facilities across the country.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of ensuring that correctional institutions uphold human rights standards while promoting the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of offenders into society.

Speaking in Blantyre during an interaction meeting between the EU and members of the Blantyre Press Club, Gaztelumendi highlighted the Chilungamo Project as one of the EU’s key contributions to justice sector reforms in Malawi.

According to the ambassador, the project is helping to strengthen access to justice and improve the effectiveness of the country’s legal and correctional systems.

Among the project’s major interventions is support for prison decongestion through camp courts, where justice stakeholders review cases and facilitate the release of eligible non-violent offenders. The initiative is aimed at reducing overcrowding in prisons while ensuring fair and timely access to justice.

The Chilungamo Project is also promoting parole and alternative sentencing by training prison officers, paralegals and social welfare officers to implement community-based rehabilitation programmes.

Gaztelumendi said such initiatives are critical in fostering a correctional system that not only protects human rights but also supports offenders in becoming productive members of society upon their release.

The engagement with the Blantyre Press Club was aimed at strengthening relations and fostering collaboration between the media and the European Union on issues of mutual interest.