News
Opinion piece in New York Times highlights devastating impact of solitary confinement on mental health
In her article, The Living Death of Solitary Confinement, Lisa Guenther, an associate professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University (Tennessee), argues it is profoundly harmful for both prisoners and society to isolate people in units where they are neither allowed nor obliged to create and sustain meaningful, supportive relationships with others. The article trails Professor Guenther’s forthcoming book Social […]
News
Public Monitoring Commissions in Kazakhstan: Public Statement
(8 August 2012) A recent workshop of Public Monitoring Commissions in Kazakhstan facilitated by Penal Reform International (PRI) on 24-26 July has prompted an agitated debate in Kazakhstan about the role of these Commissions and the nature of an association coordinating their work. In the light of this discussion and criticism, which has also affected our organisation, […]
News
Armenia: PRI’s concerns reflected by UN Human Rights Committee
The United Nations Human Rights Committee held its 105th session in July and has made concluding observations that pre-trial detention is used too frequently, detainees are not informed of their rights or given quick enough access to doctors, lawyers or judges, and that prisons are overcrowded and understaffed. Our submission to the Country Report Task Force […]
News
PRI has drafted two new working documents to support and facilitate the implementation of the UN Bangkok Rules
Penal Reform International (PRI) has drafted two new working documents to support and facilitate the implementation of the UN Bangkok Rules. Until their adoption, standards had not properly reflected the specific needs of girls and women, with regard to both conditions of detention and alternatives to imprisonment. Since their adoption, a number of states have […]
News
PRI launches two books on women in the criminal justice system at the House of Lords
On 2 July 2012, over 40 attendees representing parliament, NGOs, donors and partners gathered to celebrate the launch of two books by Dr Rani Dhavan Shankardass, Penal Reform International’s Honorary President and Secretary General of Penal Reform and Justice Association (PRAJA), India: Of Women ‘Inside’: Prison Voices from India and In Conflict and Custody: Therapeutic Counselling for […]
News
PRI participates in death penalty experts meeting at Harvard Law School
On 25-26 June 2012, PRI participated in an expert consultation at Harvard Law School with the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Mr Christof Heyns and the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr Juan Méndez. Other participants representing academia, lawyers, and NGOs included […]
News
PRI activities at the forthcoming Crime Commission
At the annual session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Penal Reform International will promote the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, their value and the need for their implementation by states. Should you be interested in the Report and Recommendations of the […]
News
PRI hosts Tenth General Assembly of the World Coalition against the Death Penalty in Jordan
Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Justice for Jordan, Khalifa Khalid Al-Sulaiman, PRI and the World Coalition against the Death Penalty opened the tenth General Assembly of the World Coalition. The General Assembly focused on the efforts and realities in the fight against the death penalty at the international level and in […]
Press release
PRI to host Cross-Regional Conference on Torture Prevention in Tbilisi
PRI is organising a cross-regional conference on torture prevention on 25-26 June at the Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel in Tbilisi. The conference will be streamed live and you can follow the conference via webcast. The cross-regional conference aims to provide opportunities for inter-country learning and exchanges of experience. It will also seek to provide recommendations […]
News
UN Secretary General’s Report on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty: consultation process
In view of the UN Secretary General’s forthcoming report on the implementation of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty for the 67th session of the UN General Assembly (September 2012), civil society organisations were invited to share information covering relevant developments since 21 December 2010 on the implementation of a moratorium on […]