Putting our problems in perspective

A meting of the senior team today followed by a visit to St Andrew's House to meet Fiona Mwali, a High Court judge from Malawi - See extra with Greg Barton from Chance for Change a project she supports to help young people turn around.

Ms Mwali is interested in our approach in Scotland. She had observed hearings (4!) n the morning. Has visited a secure establishment - the Good Shepherd and is due tomorrow to visit Polmont.

She is passionate about reforming the system in Malawi but as she described the culture there the challenges seem overwhelming. Children are imprisoned below the legal age for imprisonment. If they've been away from their family/ community for a while there is no guarantee that their safety can be protected. Not just from abuse and violence but from killing and limbs being chopped off. Some tribal justice can be harsh if it is felt the community has been dishonoured.

While the atrocities elsewhere in the world, e.g. in Mosul, are horrendous with report of killings for carrying a mobile phone, some sentences for the theft of a mobile phone - or a chicken - can lead to several years sentence in prison under a formal judicial system. A system where proceedings are conducted in English which many do not understand. There is due process but ensuring it is observed is an effort.

We worry about tight resources. There, resources frequently do not exist.

So Mrs Mwali's work to effect change is both hugely challenging and very impressive. Her visit to Scotalnd is to learn where we have reached. And what we still face by way if challenges. We had a lengthy and interesting discussion before th about Malawi and the Scottish approach.