Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 18, 2021

Chile : Managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties Work Chile

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Chilean authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

France: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Europe Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties France

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the French authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Spain: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Europe Health Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties Spain

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Spanish authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

South Africa: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Africa Coronavirus Health Material conditions Protest Overcrowding Activities Social ties South Africa

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the South African authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 17, 2021

Haití: sangrienta fuga de una cárcel, se escaparon 400 presos y hay 25 muertos

News

Central America and the Caribbean Protest Overcrowding Violence Haiti

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: prison riots leave 79 dead, including 34 in Cuenca. Gang wars result in beheadings, dismemberments

News

South America Drugs Protest Violence Ecuador

“This is a human slaughterhouse,” is how a national police captain described the scene as he entered a high security area of Cuenca’s Turi prison following tuesday’s riot. “It is the most terrible thing I have ever witnessed as a police officer.”

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: President declares state of emergency following deadly prison riots

News

South America Protest Violence Ecuador

Officials in Ecuador say order has been restored at prisons in three cities, where authorities said at least 75 inmates died in riots between rival gangs. President Lenín Moreno declared the national prison system in a state of emergency and ordered stepped-up security measures.    Officials say au…

March 1, 2021

Bielorrusia: las autoridades atacan a menores de edad para reprimir la disidencia

News

Pre-trial detention Europe Minors Protest Violence Belarus

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

March 1, 2021

Rusia: las cárceles de Moscú, colmadas de seguidores de Navalny

News

Pre-trial detention Asia Access to legal rights Material conditions Protest Russia

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: violentos motines dejan más de 75 muertos en tres cárceles

News

South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Ecuador

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 25, 2021

Équateur : des mutineries dans trois prisons font 79 morts

News

South America Protest Violence Ecuador

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

February 24, 2021

Paraguay: six inmates die in a riot in Paraguay's main prison

News

South America Protest Violence Paraguay

Paraguayan Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday reported that six inmates died during a riot in Asuncion’s Tacumbu prison, as they demanded equal rights with the rest of the country’s penitentiaries.

February 15, 2021

Russia: human rights activists have spent 30 years fighting for better privacy and cleaner facilities, but ‘holes in the floor’ persist

News

Asia Access to legal rights Material conditions Protest Russia

In recent weeks, the Russian authorities arrested thousands of demonstrators at protests across the country, sentencing hundreds to several days or weeks in jail. For many of these people, behind bars for the first time in their lives, state custody was a uniquely upsetting experience — particularl…

February 15, 2021

Algérie : des ONG se mobilisent contre la torture et les conditions de détention

News

Africa Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Justice Protest Torture Violence Algeria

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

February 8, 2021

Italie: en prison avec des djihadistes, Cesare Battisti démarre une grève de la faim

News

Europe Discipline Material conditions Protest Italy

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

February 3, 2021

Venezuela: Amnistía Internacional nombra presos de conciencia a cinco miembros de la ONG humanitaria Azul Positivo

News

South America Access to legal rights Protest Venezuela

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 3, 2021

Hong Kong: la detención masiva de figuras de la oposición pone de relieve la capacidad represiva de la ley de seguridad nacional

News

Pre-trial detention Asia Access to legal rights Protest Hong Kong SAR China

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 3, 2021

Rusia: detenciones de personas que protestaban pacíficamente

News

Pre-trial detention Asia Access to legal rights Protest Overcrowding Violence Russia

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 3, 2021

Rusia: Navalny condenado a prisión mientras la detención masiva de sus simpatizantes deriva en hacinamiento grave y condiciones de reclusión crueles

News

Pre-trial detention Asia Access to legal rights Justice Material conditions Protest Russia

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 2, 2021

Brazil: Covid-19 aggravating the jail crisis

News

Coronavirus South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Brazil

As the largest and most inhabited country in South America, Brazil has also the largest population of people in jail.

February 2, 2021

Guinea: deaths in detention and prison sentence for opposition members

Africa Access to legal rights Health Material conditions Protest Guinea

Authorities in Guinea must investigate the deaths of at least four people in detention and end a wave of arrests targeting at least 400 opposition and civil society members.

February 2, 2021

New Zealand: Waikeria protests put a spotlight on prison conditions

News

Coronavirus Oceania Health Material conditions Protest New Zealand

While the protests at Waikeria shine a light on prisoner conditions, abuses of power and inhumane treatment in prison are not new and will continue until prisoner numbers significantly reduce.

January 20, 2021

Europe: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 has not stopped at prison gates. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? — Update 31/12/2021

January 20, 2021

Americas: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 has not stopped at prison gates. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? — Update 31/12/2021