Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe has hailed as a “breakthrough” the overturning of a decision banning children from visiting parents who are in jail in the southern African nation.
The organisation successfully lobbied to overturn the ban which applied to children under the age of 18. Government officials have now agreed to hold an annual visitation week in which children of all prisoners may visit them at prisons throughout the nation.
Adam Hutchinson, international director of child sponsorship at Prison Fellowship International – of which Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe is an affiliate, said there is growing awareness and evidence of the “significant impact” children visiting their parents in prison can have on both children and inmates.
“Studies show children who maintain a connection with their incarcerated parent report higher feelings of safety, stability, and overall emotional wellbeing. There is always a reduced likelihood of a parent re-offending after release, meaning families are stronger and children are better cared for.”
The decision to overturn the ban comes after a trial involving children from five families in PFZ’s children of prisoners program, some of whom hadn’t seen their parents for as long as 10 years.
Wilson Femayi, PFZ children of prisoners program manager, said feedback from the families involved was that the children’s behavior changed positively and “they couldn’t stop talking about such a memorable event”.
“The prison social workers also reported a remarkable behavioral change in inmates who met with their families for the first time.”
PFI said Prison Fellowship affiliates in Rwanda and Zambia were now lobbying for changes in their own nation’s visitation laws.