This short guide provides an illustrated summary, section by section, of the first ever General Comment by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on Children of incarcerated and imprisoned parents and primary caregivers (Article 30 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child). It […]
(Определение понятия «пытки» и соответствующее наказание в законодательстве Казахстана, Кыргызстана и Таджикистана) This Factsheet analyses the definition of the offence of torture, its application, scope and penalties, in the legislation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and assesses compliance with international human rights standards. This paper has been produced under the project Humanisation of the criminal justice systems of Kyrgyzstan and […]
(Анализ законодательства по предотвращению насилия против детей в Центральной Азии) This Factsheet outlines current safeguards in the legislation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for the prevention of violence against children in detention, identifies gaps and makes recommendations for improvement. This paper has been produced under the project Humanisation of the criminal justice systems of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through establishing […]
Updated May 2014! First presented in April 2013 to the 22nd Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna and updated for the Crime Commission in May 2014, this discussion paper The Use and Practice of Imprisonment: Current Trends and Future Challenges looks at current trends in prison populations, the use of new […]
How are lawyers affected by defending death penalty cases, where failure means execution? And how do they respond when their clients are killed? This briefing paper, written by Susannah Sheffer and drawing on her book Fighting for their lives, showcases the voices of the lawyers themselves to demonstrate the profound and long-lasting impacts that the […]
(Альтернативы лишению свободы в законодательстве Казахстана, Кыргызстана и Таджикистана) This Factsheet outlines the alternatives to imprisonment at pre-trial and sentencing stages envisaged in the legislation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and makes a number of recommendations for reform, in particular measures to introduce probation services. This paper has been produced under the project Humanisation of […]
The death penalty is retained for terrorism offences in many countries, but how does it conform with international standards? The global community has had much to say about both terrorism and capital punishment; this paper brings together the key arguments to identify the appropriate state responses in the face of terrorism.
Girls are one of the most vulnerable groups involved in criminal justice systems because of their age, gender and small numbers. Relatively little is known or understood about offending by girls, their specific needs whilst in detention, or about what is effective in terms of gender-sensitive rehabilitation and social reintegration measures. This paper examines the specific challenges faced […]
Prison officers come into contact with prisoners on a daily basis and have almost absolute power over detainees who rely on them for their basic needs. The way prison officers perceive their working conditions how they are treated by managers and colleagues has a significant impact on the atmosphere in detention and the treatment of […]
While they may sometime be a necessary measure to provide security and order in a custodial setting (eg to prevent inter-prisoner violence or escape), instruments of restraint pose a high risk for torture or other ill-treatment due to their highly intrusive nature and the risk of causing injury, pain and/or humiliation. They may even be […]