June 2007

PRI has launched a two year project (2007-09) on the abolition of the death penalty and alternatives to life imprisonment in four world regions: Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation, and South Caucasus.

The project, co-financed by the European Commission, and implemented through PRI’s regional offices, aims to positively challenge society’s attitudes towards the death penalty and support government and civil society efforts in progressing towards full abolition of the death penalty in law. It also aims to influence the introduction of alternative sanctions to the death penalty in countries which have already abolished or are nearing abolition.

Citizens of 147 countries appeal to the United Nations to maintain an independent and effective system of human rights experts.

A petition signed by more than 12,000 individuals was delivered to the President of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (the Council), Luis Alfonso de Alba, in Geneva today. The signatories include victims of human rights violations, human rights defenders, human rights experts, parliamentarians, national human rights commissioners, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from every region in the world. The petition (see text below) calls on the Council to maintain and strengthen its system of independent human rights experts known as the “Special Procedures.”

A resolution on International Cooperation for the improvement of Access to Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice System in Africa was adopted at the 16th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna on 27 April 2007.

Appended to the resolution is the Lilongwe Declaration on Accessing Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice System in Africa, a practical document developed at a PRI conference in November 2004.

The Declaration stresses the need for legal aid provision at all stages of the criminal justice system. It recognises Africa's traditional community-based alternatives to formal criminal justice. It opens up a range of legal aid delivery services ranging from law clinics to offices of public defenders, from pro bono legal assistance to justice centres. Recognising the shortfall of lawyers, it proposes greater reliance on paralegals and trained legal assistants to complement the work of lawyers. It stresses the need for greater legal literacy.

PRI's Policy Director, Mel James, presented an oral statement during the session in Vienna in support of the Draft Resolution.

PRI warmly welcomes the adoption of the resolution and the Lilongwe Declaration which it hopes 'will inspire and support governments in Africa, and possibly elsewhere, to develop practical policies that make criminal justice systems better atuned to international human rights norms and support the fair treatment of criminal suspects and convicted prisoners.' (Quote taken from PRI's oral statement)

Further Information

Lilongwe Declaration on Accessing Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice System in Africa (2004)

Penal Reform International is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, Alison Hannah, who will be commencing with PRI in June 2007.  Alison replaces Paul English, who has led the organisation with much commitment and dedication since March 2001.

Penal Reform International is also pleased to confirm the election of Juliet Lyon, (Director of Prison Reform Trust), as the new Secretary General of PRI, effective from 31 March 2007.

Rani Shankardass
Chairperson
Penal Reform International