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The 33rd session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (the ‘Crime Commission’) will be held in Vienna and online from 17 – 21 May 2021. The Crime Commission is the principal policymaking body that guides the UN in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice and takes action […]
Through a fund from the European Union, PRI is playing a pivotal role in addressing the needs of detainees amidst the current devastating conflict. Started in June 2023, the project “Enhancing Rule of Law and People’s Access to Justice in Sudan” has led transformative efforts to improve prison conditions, advocate for the rights of vulnerable […]
This is part 2 of the blog ”Findings from Auditing Prisons in Malawi” originally published by Pathfinders Read part 1 here ____________________________________________________________ By Clifford Msiska, Director, Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (Malawi) and Adam Stapleton, Director, The Governance and Justice Group (UK) The Justice for All report highlights the importance of putting people at the center of justice. This can […]
In February 2024, Penal Reform International (PRI) and local partner, Ceza İnfaz Sisteminde Sivil Toplum Derneği (Civil Society in the Penal System Association, CISST), embarked on a new project funded by the European Union to improve human rights in the in Türkiye’s Penitentiary System. For the next four years, PRI and CISST will deliver an ambitious […]
Press release On 6 February 2024, in Doha, Qatar, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of the State of Qatar and Penal Reform International (PRI) made a significant step towards improving and safeguarding human rights in the criminal justice system by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic partnership aims to foster a collaborative […]
Press release Amman, Jordan – 18 February 2024 Penal Reform International/Middle East and North Africa Office was delighted to host a distinguished delegation from the National Diwan for Human Rights in Kuwait. The visit was led by Counsellor Huda Al-Shaiji, a prominent member of the Diwan’s Board of Directors, alongside Ms. Duha Alotaibi, Director of […]
Taghreed Jaber, PRI Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa; and Suzanne Jabbour, Executive Director of Restart Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, Chair of the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, and PRI Board Member. On 11 and 12 July 2023, for the first time in the Middle East, […]
Penal Reform International (PRI) has announced the establishment of an Advisory Council and is honoured that eight distinguished experts have been elected as the first members. The Council will strengthen the organisation’s impact and networks to achieve PRI’s ambitions for 2020-2023. Hon’ble Justice Muhammad Imman Ali, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and […]
Penal Reform International (PRI) regrets to announce that Florian Irminger has chosen to resign as Executive Director from the end of October 2020. Florian will be taking up the position of Secretary General of the Green Party in Switzerland. Florian Irminger commented: ‘I have a high esteem for PRI’s work, am grateful to have been […]
A new briefing, Coronavirus: Preventing harm and human rights violations in criminal justice systems, highlights the impact of responses to COVID-19 on people in detention – amounting to 11 million people – who have been left behind, ignored or forgotten. Penal Reform International exposes a lack of systematic testing and data collection in prisons across the globe, which means unknown numbers of people in detention and staff are falling ill and dying […]
George Floyd’s killing in the United States city of Minneapolis in Minnesota has shed light on systemic racism within law enforcement agencies across the US. Such discrimination is a global problem, as we have documented in Global Prison Trends 2020, minority groups are over-represented in many criminal justice systems, seeing higher rates of arrest, pre-trial […]
An effective and human rights-based approach to law enforcement requires legitimacy, non-discrimination, and public scrutiny. Trust in law enforcement agencies must come from commitment to the law and international standards, respect for all people and tolerance to those who come into contact with law enforcement, and exemplary in behaviour of law enforcement agents. Police can […]
Prisons and justice systems are facing unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 global pandemic. At this launch event for PRI’s new report Global Prison Trends 2020, international leaders and experts will address chronic issues that have led to this human rights and public health crisis with people in prison being so vulnerable – and critically, […]
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 reminds us of the very essence of PRI’s existence. At this time, our mission is to ensure that no one is left behind and PRI is working to ensure that prison management, criminal justice authorities and governments around the world are informed, equipped and supported to slow and […]
Penal Reform International in the Middle East and North Africa, in partnership with the Penitentiary and Reintegration Administration Algeria, and supported by the British embassy in Algiers, has been delivering capacity building interventions to prison staff on the principles of strategic planning and implementation methodologies. These interventions are part of a broader project funded by […]