There is a conscious effort to improve conditions of detention and in fact a new prison was constructed at Impfondo, within the framework of the accelerated municipalisation process, to replace the older decrepit one. Authorities and human rights organisations responsible for human rights (NGOs, Associations) visit Congolese prisons regularly. Social reintegration of delinquents is one of the modern objectives of criminal sanction. It is in line with human rights laws in the sense that it allows a former prisoner to live a normal social, family and professional life regain their human dignity. Thus, difficult as it is, the Congolese Prison system has always made social reintegration of delinquents one of its major concerns. Of course that presupposes that specific measures are put in place such as, providing work f, schooling and professional training or prisoners serving their sentence. One such example is a Literacy Centre of sorts at the Brazzaville Central Prison. The Management of the Prison’s administration has a Directorate for Social Reintegration and Social Justice. The office is responsible for formulating schemes to facilitate the reinsertion of prisoners into society through their socioeducational, technical, sports, and cultural motivation while in prison. 2. The legal framework The various Conventions signed by Congo, the 20 January, 2002 Constitution and the laws and regulations of the Republic constitute the legal framework. a) International conventions Congo is a signatory to most international human rights conventions. The table below gives an idea of the main international instruments ratified by Congo : INSTRUMENTS Protocol relative to the status of refugees International Covenant on economic, social and cultural rights International Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Convention on the Rights of the Child Second optional protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the Death Penalty Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and their families DATE OF RATIFICATION OR SIGNING 10/07/1970 05/01/1984 25/08/1982 11/07/1988 05/10/1985 13/11/1993 30/07/2003 12