By Rana Jawad BBC News, Tripoli

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With help from the judicial police and the UK-based International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS), Libyan prison staff have been trained in international human rights standards over the past 18 months.

And the justice ministry has launched the booklet Human Rights in Prison Management so both staff and inmates are aware of the law.

Justice Minister Omar al-Hesnawi pointed to an amnesty as another sign of recent improvements in handling prisoners.

"Some 6,500 were granted amnesty in the past year and we will be repatriating a lot of foreign prisoners, particularly those of African nationality, back to their own countries, to ease overcrowding. This is a humane move that will give them a chance to rehabilitate," he said.

'Unacceptable'

Initial findings by ICPS included poor sanitation and health care services and overcrowding.

ICPS project manager Andy Barclay described some conditions as "totally unacceptable."

There's still a long way to go Andy Barclay UK prison expert

Some of the worst prison conditions were mostly evident in old buildings.

Mr Barclay says that some of the newly built establishments could meet international standards.

He cited recent examples like the building of a new hospital at the Jedieda prison in Tripoli, which he describes as being "of world-class standard".

Some of the biggest changes in the past two years have been the independence of the judicial police from the rest of the police force and its transferral from the ministry of interior to the ministry of justice, which would allow it to run its own prisons.

Other notable improvements lie in procedural changes like the transfer of prisoners.

Equal treatment

Traditional container lorries have apparently been upgraded to buses.

Mr Barclay said that new prisons are also less crowded with better facilities but "there's still a long way to go".

There are many changes that have taken place since the last visit of the British consultants Mohamed al-Mahjoubi Justice ministry official

The ICPS noted during earlier visits dating back to 2003 that African women were totally isolated in a separate part of the prison.

According to Mr Barclay, the situation has changed and all the women, whatever their nationality or race have been integrated into the same space.

He describes this as "recognition by Libyan authorities that all nationalities should be treated equally".

With reference to concerns raised by human rights groups, Mr Barclay feels the issues at hand are being seriously addressed.

"Libya wants to become part of the international community and they recognise that to do so, they have to meet international standards... and they have started to do something about it."

New prison

The consultants from ICPS also confirmed reports that prisoners had died from tuberculosis, citing a prison in the town of Sebha.

"This prison clearly has a problem with TB and the current prison has to be demolished," Mr Barclay said.

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"It is recognised by the Libyan authorities that it is unacceptable... they are building a new prison".

The under-secretary in the justice ministry, Mohamed al-Mahjoubi, says the experiences have helped with "construction of prisons, how prisoners are kept and how they are treated.

"There are many changes that have taken place since the last visit of the British consultants [ICPS]."

Other issues examined during routine exchange visits to London are the rights to legal representation, health care for prisoners and NGO involvement.

These are key areas in which Libya is accused of shortcomings by groups such as Amnesty international.

Following its first visit after a 15-year absence, Amnesty released a critical report last year, citing numerous testimonies of Libyan and foreign prisoners who alleged they were tortured for confessions or held for years without legal representation and poor access to healthcare.

In response to these concerns, Mr al-Mahjoubi said the "concerns that were raised were taken seriously and current events are testimonial to that."

Mr al-Arebi said they have no objections to NGO visits. "There is no-one in our prisons without a legal or judicial need for him/her to be there."

Libyan authorities seem eager to improve prison conditions and treatment of inmates to eventually meet international standards.

But the foreign experts and local authorities involved in this reform programme recognise that this is a first step down a very long road.