Coronavirus: Prison Fever / 2021

International

Tools.

• The interactive map of the John Hopkins University

• Justice Project Pakistan’s interactive map with the number of prisoners infected by and dead from COVID-19 worldwide

• The page of World Prison Brief updated daily by the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research

• Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN) compilation of resources from its members, partners and international organisations

• The release of deliberations around the world and the integration of people convicted of drug-related offenses into these measures by Harm Reduction International

• A COVID-19 training module is available free of charge from our partners Synergies Coopération and FIACAT

• The ICPA page / International Corrections and Prisons Association

• The page “COVID-19 – Defending justice in crisis” from the International Legal Foundation (ILF)

• The legal brief on the right to health care in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic by Open Society Justice Initiative

Reports.

• An information package developed by UN DPO (JCS/OROLSI) and UNITAR (Division for Peace)

• The guidance brief from the OMCT (in English), with contributions from the Public Committee Against Torture, Physicians for Human Rights, l'association pour la Prévention de la Torture, Antigone Association, Prison Insider, the Public Verdict Foundation and Justice Project Pakistan

• The article COVID-19 in prison by the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) in Geneva, Switzerland

• The briefing note by Penal Reform International

Appeals and recommendations.

• The interim recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the COVID-19 management in prisons and other places of detention

• The advice from the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) regarding persons deprived of liberty and the current pandemic, available in 6 languages from the United Nations

• The call from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to take urgent action to protect the health and safety of people in detention and other closed facilities

• The call from International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to protect detainees and staff

• The statement of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) for the establishment of effective measures to protect public health and safety, including for the most vulnerable

• An appeal for a global moratorium on the death penalty while the States are trying hard to save lives and a fair judicial process is impossible was presented by over 40 organisations to the United Nations Human Rights Council

Africa

• Amnesty International call on the sub-Saharan African States to free-up space in their prisons by releasing political prisoners and prisoners of conscience

• The joint declaration of the World Organization against Torture (OMCT) and ten NGOs addressed to African decision-makers

• The joint statement of 26 national and international stakeholders calling for immediate emergency measures to protect the rights of prisoners in Africa

Americas

Reports.

• The report by the Sociedad de Criminología Latinoamericana on the effects of the coronavirus in Latin American prisons

• Summaries of LEASUR on the coronavirus in Chile prisons: March, April and May

• The report from Venezuelan association Une ventana a la Libertad on the first 50 days of quarantine in the remand detention centres.

• The report from the University of Andes Journalism School regarding the La Modeloprison riot on the 21 March

Appeals and recommendations.

• The recommendations for the Latin American authorities on the treatment of women prisoners during the pandemic, produced by the Centro de Estudios y Acción por la Justicia -CEA (Mexico), Justicia-Asociación Civil (Mexico), and the Psychology Department of Chili University

• The press release of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the conditions of detention in Latin America

• The resolution adopted by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission to establish standards and make recommendations to member States

• The Chilean NGO LEASUR proposed an action plan and recommendations to national and international authorities.

• The call from Corpora en Libertad to consider the effect of the pandemic on LGBTI+ detainees.

• The opinion piece by Nathalie Alvarado (coordinator of the Inter-American Development Bank’s “Citizen Security and Justice” focus area) on the importance of keeping the coronavirus out of prisons.

• The press release from Human Rights Watch on Latin America

Asia

Tools.

• Justice Project Pakistan’s explanatory video on prison conditions in Pakistani prisons and the vulnerability of prisoners faced with COVID-19.

Appeals and recommendations.

• The statement from the ADPAN network, relayed by the Australian Capital Punishment Justice project.

Europe

Tools.

• The information page of EuroPris, the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services, on preventive measures.

Appeals and recommendations.

• The open letter to the presidents of the institutions of the European Union, signed by 50 public figures from several countries, demanding an immediate amnesty for persons deprived of their freedom

• The call of 42 European NGOs to international institutions including the WHO and the Council of Europe

• The statement of principles related to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of Covid-19 by the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)

• 60 MEPs have called on the commission and the European Council to encourage member states to adopt measures to guarantee the protection of prisoners’ fundamental rights

Middle East

• The call of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, the MENA rights group, and 38 other organizations for the governments of the Middle East-North Africa region to take emergency measures to protect prison populations from the COVID-19 virus epidemic

Oceania

• The statement from the ADPAN network, relayed by the Australian Capital Punishment Justice project