Original text uploaded to YouTube with video, by The Oslo Freedom Forum:
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa describes his work as an advocate of prisoners' rights in Burundi. Mbonimpa himself was a victim of arbitrary imprisonment for two years, suffering extreme cruelty and inhumane conditions. Since his release, he's been working to improve prison conditions and assist prisoners, many of whom have yet to stand trial. His organization, APRODH, visits prisons and detention centers, monitoring and denouncing different kinds of violations, including torture, sexual violence, and gender-based violence. The level of torture in Burundi has actually been reduced by 90% thanks to his organization's efforts. Despite Mboimpa's work, Burundi's prison system still has a lot of issues: 300% overcapacity, preventative imprisonment, due process violations, insufficient staff, lack of medical treatment, and, thus, constant prisoner strikes. According to Mbonimpa, the real trouble lies in politicians who take advantage of an uneducated and illiterate population who do not know about their rights. His outspoken honesty against the government has earned him death threats, but he is not discouraged. Were he to quit, he would be abandoning the thousands of people who count on him and his organization. He reminds us.. "we cannot be discouraged, even if it means dying, to defend the rights of prisoners".