Archive

Informal life imprisonment

A policy briefing on this harsh, hidden sentence There is growing recognition that life imprisonment is a severe sentence that, if it is used at all, should be imposed sparingly, implemented humanely and give people serving life sentences hope of release when they cease to pose a danger to society. Informal life imprisonment can be […]

Climate in-justice for children: How climate crisis affects access to justice and children’s rights – Advocacy Brief

Recent studies have demonstrated that climate change poses a substantial threat to the fundamental rights of children, particularly their right to fair access to justice and child-friendly justice systems. This essential right ensures that children can effectively voice their concerns and hold relevant actors accountable for actions that have contributed to environmental degradation. Environmental degradation […]

Towards LGBTI+ sensitive justice systems for children in Europe

As part of the 2021 World Congress on Justice with Children (held online in November 2021), child justice and LGBTI+ experts and practitioners examined the challenges that LGBTI+ children in Europe face in accessing justice and proposed concrete solutions and a call for action. This Challenge Paper, developed by the Child Friendly Justice European Network […]

Deaths in prison: Examining causes, responses, and prevention

Mortality rates are up to 50% higher in prison than in the community, linked to a wide range of causes and contributing factors which raise serious concerns for human rights, public health, and prison management. This briefing is a call to action for the international community and national actors to strengthen their approach to deaths in prisons, to take pro-active measures to prevent loss of life and, when deaths do occur, to respond appropriately to identify any systemic concerns and prevent future harm.

Technical brief: Transgender people and HIV in prisons and other closed settings

Transgender people often experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including in criminal justice systems. Evidence indicates that such marginalisation, criminalisation and discrimination can lead to greater vulnerability to and risk of long-term mental and physical health issues, including increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and experience of sexual assault. This technical […]

Women involved in violent extremism: briefing from Central Asia

This paper was first published in Russian in 2019 with the support of the UK Government (CSSF) as part of the project “Strengthening and countering radicalization and violent extremism in prisons in Central Asia through religious dialogue and reintegration programs”. In 2022, it was translated into Uzbek and Karakalpak languages ​​with the financial support of […]

Ensuring independence of the NPM in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2008, committing to the designation of an independent national body for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment at the domestic level – a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The NPM law was signed in July 2013. This document includes a brief overview of NPM […]

Policing of Children and Young People: A Case for “Child-Friendly Police”

Children and young people come into contact with the police for a variety of reasons such as when they commit offences, witness crimes or as victims of crimes. Children’s developing emotional and psychological maturity puts them at increased risk of exploitation during police contact and within the justice system. This paper considers the relationship between […]