PRI was one of the first criminal justice NGOs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting prisons and issued two briefing papers examining the human rights implications of measures take by prison authorities and criminal justice settings to stem the spread of the virus. Both papers issued recommendations for urgent response and longer-term systemic reform. We […]
In 2019 we celebrated our 30th anniversary and launched a new four year strategy 2020-2023. In Central African Republic we were instrumental in the development and adoption of the National Demilitarisation Strategy of the Penitentiary System in Central African Republic which seeks reform of the country’s prison system and full civilian management. In Georgia, we reactivated […]
In Morocco, we launch the first prison radio in the Middle East and North Africa region in the Morocco’s biggest prison Oukasha in Casablanca. The radio, modelled on similar prison radio programmes around the world, gives prisoners a recreational activity as well as a training opportunity for inmates, a platform to discuss important issues related […]
We successfully complete our Kenya project, implemented with the Kenya Probation and Aftercare Service, to develop gender-sensitive pre-sentence reports and community service placements for women offenders. Resources produced include an internationally replicable, 10-step Model for Reform. Other publications include the third edition of our Global Prison Trends series, and Children and violent extremism, a briefing outlining the international and regional standards regarding the care and treatment of children suspected, or convicted, of violent extremist-related […]
We continue to promote the Nelson Mandela Rules. In collaboration with the UK government, PRI publishes a Short Guide to the Nelson Mandela Rules, which is now available in eight languages. PRI and the University of Essex’s Human Rights Centre publish a guidance document on the interpretation and implementation of the Rules. A pilot project with […]
In 2015, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopts the revised UN Standard Minimum Rules, renaming them the Nelson Mandela Rules. This was the culmination of four years of intensive advocacy by PRI and other organisations to bring the 60-year-old Rules up-to-date with modern human rights standards. We publish several influential reports, including Global Prison Trends 2015 – a […]
PRI celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, launching a new short animated film – Is a prison sentence always the solution? PRI’s work on the UN Bangkok Rules continues with a focus on training. Over 300 individuals from over 60 countries take part in face-to-face training and our e-learning course. The revision of the UN Standard Minimum Rules moves closer […]
PRI launches three flagship publications: a Toolbox on the UN Bangkok Rules, including PRI’s first free e-learning course; a Detention Monitoring Tool to help monitoring bodies to detect and prevent torture; and a brand new edition of our popular Juvenile Justice Manual. Reducing unnecessary imprisonment remains at the heart of what we do. An OSF-funded project in Georgia concludes this […]
PRI continues its work to promote the UN Bangkok Rules and the newly adopted UN Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, as well as updating the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. We organise a cross-regional conference on torture prevention in Tbilisi, Georgia as well as an international […]
Work begins with partners in East Africa and South Asia. PRI hosts three film festivals in Jordan, Kazakhstan and Georgia on the abolition of the death penalty and life imprisonment. PRI”s Middle East and North Africa office completes its six-year juvenile justice programme funded by SIDA. PRI updates its Ten-point plan to address prison overcrowding and Ten-point plan […]