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PRI at the 14th UN Crime Congress

The rescheduled 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will be held from 7 – 12 March 2021 in Kyoto, Japan under the overall theme “Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda”. The UN ‘Crime Congress’, held once every five years since 1955, […]

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Tribute to John William Nyoka, Penal Reform International’s Board member

Penal Reform International (PRI) mourns the death of John William Nyoka, Board member, who passed away yesterday on 3 February 2021 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. John Nyoka had faithfully served PRI’s Board since 2016, bringing a passion for prison reform in Africa following a long career in the prison service and later as a […]

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Human rights leaders call for full implementation of the UN Bangkok Rules

A group of UN and regional human rights experts with mandates relating to detention and women’s rights today called on governments across the world to fully implement the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules). The Bangkok Rules were adopted by the UN General […]

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Advisory Council established with distinguished experts appointed to support PRI’s work

Penal Reform International (PRI) has announced the establishment of an Advisory Council and is honoured that eight distinguished experts have been elected as the first members. The Council will strengthen the organisation’s impact and networks to achieve PRI’s ambitions for 2020-2023. Hon’ble Justice Muhammad Imman Ali, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and […]

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Webinar: The UN Bangkok Rules at 10: Progress and possibilities

Versión en español más abajo December 2020 marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules). As we approach this milestone, we consider progress – and delay – in making the Rules a reality for all women […]

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Webinar: Accelerate release of children from detention in times of COVID-19

To protect children deprived of their liberty during the COVID-19 pandemic, states must take urgent action to release children from detention and to implement non-custodial measures to ensure children’s safe reintegration into families and communities. To support professionals working in this field, the Global Initiative on Justice with Children produced a range of resources, including […]

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Florian Irminger resigns from PRI as Executive Director

Penal Reform International (PRI) regrets to announce that Florian Irminger has chosen to resign as Executive Director from the end of October 2020. Florian will be taking up the position of Secretary General of the Green Party in Switzerland. Florian Irminger commented: ‘I have a high esteem for PRI’s work, am grateful to have been […]

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Winners of the ‘Capstone Project’ research competition announced

Finalists of the ‘Capstone Project’ research competition, implemented by Penal Reform International (PRI) with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kazakhstan, presented their research projects on 14 July 2020. This year, due to the COVID-19 related restrictions in Kazakhstan, students of M.Utemissov West Kazakhstan State University presented their research […]

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Commentary to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic is now available online

In the framework of the project “Supporting the State and Civil Society efforts in combating torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in Kyrgyzstan” funded by European Union, PRI in cooperation with the UNICEF in Kyrgyzstan and PF “Legal Centre” prepared Commentary to the Criminal Procedure Code. The development of the Commentary […]

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People in detention are forgotten or ignored in COVID-19 responses, says new PRI briefing

A new briefing, Coronavirus: Preventing harm and human rights violations in criminal justice systems, highlights the impact of responses to COVID-19 on people in detention – amounting to 11 million people – who have been left behind, ignored or forgotten. Penal Reform International exposes a lack of systematic testing and data collection in prisons across the globe, which means unknown numbers of people in detention and staff are falling ill and dying […]