Resources listing

Multimedia

Podcast: Radicalisation and de-radicalisation in prison – what should we do with violent extremist offenders?

How can prison administrations prevent the spread of radicalisation in prisons? Should violent extremist offenders be separated from the rest of prison population? How can de-radicalisation programmes in prison assist offenders to abandon extremist ideologies? Dr Shane Bryans, a former UK prison governor and expert, who has worked on prison-based deradicalisation in a number of […]

Languages: English

Model for Reform

Law on a National Preventive Mechanism, Kazakhstan

In July 2013, Kazakhstan passed a new law establishing a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). Throughout 2011 and 2012, PRI’s Central Asia office was intensively engaged in negotiations to establish an NPM for Kazakhstan, which would fulfil its obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). PRI’s advocacy and in particular its engagement […]

Languages: English, Russian

Briefing

Definition of ‘torture’ and the issue of appropriate sanctions in the legislation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

(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 […]

Languages: English, Russian

Briefing

The use and practice of imprisonment: current trends and future challenges

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 […]

Languages: English

Submission

Submission to the UN Committee against Torture, November 2013: Application of the death penalty and alternative sanctions by the Republic of Belarus

This submission to the 51st session of the UN Committee against Torture focuses on the use of the death penalty and life imprisonment in Belarus, on prison monitoring, and on due process related (primarily) to death penalty-applicable cases. It highlights ongoing concerns over the continued use and execution of the death penalty in Belarus; the extremely […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Detention Monitoring Tool: Staff working conditions

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 […]

Languages: English, French, Georgian, Russian, Spanish

Briefing

Detention Monitoring Tool: Instruments of restraint

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 […]

Languages: English, French, Russian, Spanish

Briefing

Detention Monitoring Tool: Pre-trial detention

Pre-trial detention is a high risk situation for torture and ill-treatment. Pre-trial detention increases the risk of a confession being coerced by torture and confession and exposes detainees – still innocent until proven guilty – to violence and abuse from guards or other prisoners. High rates of pre-trial detention contribute to overcrowding, which in turn […]

Languages: English, French, Georgian, Russian, Spanish

Briefing

Detention Monitoring Tool: Body searches

While a legitimate security measure under certain circumstances, body searches also represent a high-risk situation for abuse, ill-treatment and even torture; they may also be used to intimidate, harass, retaliate or discriminate. This Factsheet: lists the relevant international standards identifies types and situations of risk provides checklists of questions that monitoring bodies can ask for […]

Languages: English, French, Russian, Spanish