Report
Institutional culture in detention: a framework for preventive monitoring
This paper looks at positive culture change in places of deprivation of liberty from a human rights perspective. People deprived of their liberty are particularly vulnerable to abuse, including torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
Bodies that monitor places of detention play a significant role in preventing torture, by identifying root causes and seeking to reduce the risk of torture occurring. The culture in places of detention is one important systemic factor to be considered in torture prevention efforts.
This resource from PRI and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) is designed to:
- raise awareness among monitoring bodies of the role of culture in places of detention in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment
- provide a framework for understanding culture in places of detention
- outline some common cultural attitudes that can represent risk factors for torture and ill-treatment
- provide some examples of processes and factors that contribute to positive culture change in places of detention
This paper is part of PRI/APT’s Detention Monitoring Tool, which aims to provide analysis and practical guidance to help monitoring bodies, including National Preventive Mechanisms, to fulfil their preventive mandate as effectively as possible when visiting police facilities or prisons. The tool seeks to support such bodies in addressing systemic risk factors that contribute to an environment where torture or other ill-treatment occurs.
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