Blog

“Minus the urinals and painted pink”? What should a women’s prison look like?

Historically prison buildings have largely been designed for the majority male prisoner population. However, the growing understanding that women who offend are different from men − from their typical backgrounds and the nature of their offences, to their experience of abuse and their care-taking responsibilities is also leading architects and planners to consider how prison facilities might also be designed […]

Laura Maiello & Stephen Carter9th December 2015

Preventing infectious diseases in prisons: a public health and human rights imperative

The spread of infectious diseases is a serious problem in prison systems worldwide, with prisoners often many times more likely to be living with Tuberculosis, HIV or hepatitis than a person in the broader community. Alongside the generally poor and unsanitary conditions prevalent in prisons, one major route to infection is unsafe injecting drug use. […]

Gen Sander23rd October 2015

Introducing a valuable new tool for detention monitors

The Association for the Prevention of Torture has recently launched a new database of international and regional standards, information, guidance and helpful tips to assist prison monitors as well as prison authorities and others engaged both in running and observing prisons. Here, APT’s Detention Advisor, Jean-Sébastien Blanc, explains why this resource is needed and what it offers […]

Jean-Sébastien Blanc, APT22nd April 2015

Turning recommendations into reality: improving the impact of detention monitoring bodies

Thirty years after the entry into force of the UN Convention against Torture (CAT), there is still a considerable implementation gap and torture continues to exist worldwide. One of the most significant developments over the last few years has been the establishment of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs). While these bodies carry out regular monitoring visits […]

Moritz Birk, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute9th December 2014

The pain inflicted by the death penalty is wider than many think

For the twelfth year, governments and NGOs have been commemorating World Day Against the Death Penalty. While the major theme is always “get rid of capital punishment!”, each year there is a particular issue or world region that gets particularly emphasised. This year that theme is mental illness. Mental illness and the death penalty is […]

Oliver Robertson10th October 2014

Women in prison: Information vacuums, harms and human rights

This is one of a series of posts by Jo Baker on her research last year among women’s prisons and prison communities in Albania, Guatemala, Jordan, the Philippines and Zambia, with DIGNITY, the Danish Institute Against Torture, now published as a report. Although women face many risks and problems in prison, they may be less likely […]

Jo Baker22nd September 2014

How should we treat juveniles who commit the most serious crimes? A view from India

The terrible gang rape of a student in New Delhi in December 2012 has provoked fierce debate about the treatment of juvenile offenders who commit serious violent crimes in India over the last 18 months. In July 2013, the Supreme Court rejected petitions to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 16 following a campaign […]

Nikhil Roy27th August 2014

Protecting girls from all forms of violence in the criminal justice system

PRI has been working with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, to raise awareness and bring about changes in the treatment of girls in the criminal justice system. In this blog she explains how the new Model Strategies and Practical Measures for the Elimination of Violence against […]

Marta Santos Pais15th July 2014