Event: Prisons in crisis – Conflict, climate change and COVID-19

Side event to the 31st Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Co-organised by Penal Reform International; Government of Liechtenstein; Correctional Service Canada; Justice and Corrections Service, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions, UN Department of Peace Operations; American Civil Liberties Union; Prison Insider; and International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation.

Over recent years, the combination of increasing violent conflicts, the impacts of climate change with disastrous natural disasters and extreme temperatures coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic, presenting unprecedented challenges to prison systems globally.

On 19 May, this side event brought together experts and practitioners to discuss crisis responses by prisons and recent lessons learnt.

Speakers

Opening remarks: Robert Pulver, Chief of Justice and Corrections Service, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions, UN Department of Peace Operations

Prisons in conflict – a view from Ukraine: Dmytro Yagunov, lawyer and Ukrainian member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)

Natural hazards and prisons – a case study on the Philippines: Cathy Alvarez, Executive Director, StreetLawPH

Good governance – ongoing lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: Dr. Chrisantus Makokha, PhD, Senior Superintendent of Prisons, Personal Assistant to the Commissioner General, Kenya Prison Service

Special remarks: Brigitte Bouchard, acting Deputy Commissioner for Women, Women Offender Sector, Correctional Service Canada

Closing remarks: Karin Langg, Head of Unit for Security and Human Rights, Office for Foreign Affairs, Liechtenstein

Moderated by Olivia Rope, Executive Director, Penal Reform International