(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, […]
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 […]
On 24th to 26th July 2012, a meeting of Kazakhstan human rights defenders who specialise in monitoring prisons was hosted by Penal Reform International (PRI) at the Kegok Centre, near Astana. There are currently 13 public monitoring commissions in Kazakhstan with each group made up of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and academics. The Penal […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In recent months, PRI has closely followed the development of the Draft Law on the Establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan. On 5 June, new developments were discussed in a meeting of the Working Group on the Draft Law held in the Parliament of Kazakhstan. A representative of the government suggested the Ministry […]