Blog

New Council of Europe recommendations on electronic monitoring and the role of the Confederation on European Probation (CEP)

This blog has kindly been provided by Mike Nellis, Professor Emeritus at Strathclyde Law School’s Centre for Law, Crime and Justice and Dr Dominik Lehner Head of Penal Services, Justice and Security Department, Basel. Dr Lehner introduced the use of electronic monitoring in Switzerland in 2000 and he and Professor Nellis, an academic expert on electronic monitoring, were nominated to […]

Mike Nellis and Dominik Lehner1st May 2014

The 3rd Optional Protocol to the CRC: a step forward in improving access to justice for children

PRI is very happy to welcome into force the 3rd Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (OP3). OP3 establishes a ‘Communications Procedure’, providing children with an international complaints mechanism to address violations of their rights. In January 2014, Costa Rica became the 10th country to ratify OP3 – bringing it […]

Becky Randel22nd April 2014

Experts discussed Tajikistani approach towards complete abolition of death penalty

On 15 April 2014 PRI organised a Regional Conference ‘Towards a Complete Abolition of the Death Penalty in Tajikistan: Experience of Central Asian Countries’. The event was organised in cooperation with Presidential Administration of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Swiss Cooperation Office, League of women lawyers in Tajikistan, with the financial support of UK aid […]

Dinara Dildabek16th April 2014

Development of prison legislation in Central Asia: trends and challenges

Alison Hannah, PRI’s Executive Director reports from a regional conference in Kazakhstan on the development of prison legislation in Central Asia. In England and Wales, prisons are reaching crisis point. According to a recent report there are only 265 free prison places out of the 85,800 prison estate capacity. Emergency measures may be needed to […]

Alison Hannah18th March 2014

“Access to justice is not an additional right – it is a prerequisite for the enjoyment and protection of all other rights”

Becky Randel, PRI’s Research Assistant travelled to Geneva last week, with Nikhil Roy PRI’s Programme Development Director and Triona Lenihan PRI’s Policy Intern, to discuss, promote and engage with States on PRI’s programme of work relating to children deprived of their liberty. On Thursday 13 March, the Human Rights Council had its Annual Day on the […]

Becky Randel17th March 2014

Женщины в тюрьмах – кто они?

В этом году в Международный Женский День Penal Reform International (Международная Тюремная Реформа) публикует новый отчет под названием «Кем являются женщины-заключенные?  Результаты исследования в Казахстане и Кыргызстане». Данный отчет является составной частью исследовательского проекта, охватывающего несколько регионов, который вдохновлен Бангкокскими Правилами ООН о  женщинах-заключенных, который изучает истории женщин – заключенных. В рамках серии исследований будет […]

Central Asia Regional Office7th March 2014

Building a picture of women in prison

This International Women’s Day (8 March), Penal Reform International is publishing a new report, Who are women prisoners? Survey results from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The report forms part of PRI’s multi-regional research project – inspired by the UN Bangkok Rules on Women Offenders and Prisoners – which looks at the background of women in prison. […]

Olivia Rope7th March 2014

‘Why don’t they chat as they work?’ A visit to Lo Wu Correctional Institution, Hong Kong

This week, PRI’s Policy Director, Andrea Huber, attended an international conference in Hong Kong and visited Lo Wu Correctional Institution, a newly built women’s prison near the border with the Chinese mainland. Participants were very complimentary about the international conference organised by Dui Hua Foundation, in cooperation with Hong Kong University and Renmin University in […]

Andrea Huber4th March 2014

Guest blog: Death of 19-year-old in custody rightly ruled a homicide

In 2007 Ashley Smith died in a segregation cell in Canada at the age of 19 by strangling herself while the correctional staff failed to intervene.  In December 2013 an inquest ruled that Ashley’s death was a homicide and delivered 104 recommendations aimed at improving the operations and accountability of Canada’s correctional system, particularly in […]

Kim Pate6th February 2014