Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

June 9, 2021

Yemen: detainees tortured and arbitrarily detained for years then forced into exile upon release

News

Pre-trial detention Middle East Foreign prisoners Access to legal rights Torture Violence Yemen

The Huthi de facto authorities in Yemen must not use arbitrarily detained prisoners as pawns in ongoing political negotiations, a new report by Amnesty International said today.

June 9, 2021

Qatar: Kenyan labour rights activist in solitary confinement

News

Pre-trial detention Middle East Torture Qatar

More than three weeks after Mr. Bidali was forcibly disappeared by state security services, authorities are still refusing to reveal his whereabouts or explain why he has been detained.

June 9, 2021

France : en prison, on se suicide dans l’indifférence

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Violence France

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

June 9, 2021

Europe: towards a binding legal framework for places of detention

Analysis Opinion

Coronavirus Europe Access to legal rights Justice

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Saskia Bricmont focuses on European justice.

June 9, 2021

Europe: the long road to human dignity

Analysis Opinion

Pre-trial detention Europe Justice Material conditions Overcrowding Activities Social ties

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Here, Maïté de Rue discusses the overuse of pre-trial detention in Europe and its consequences.

June 8, 2021

France: Concertina, coming together to explore imprisonment

Interview

Coronavirus Culture Europe Justice France

Concertina’s goal is to convene people from various backgrounds and disciplines, all motivated by detention and incarceration.

June 8, 2021

Rehumanising pretrial justice

Analysis Opinion

Africa North America Pre-trial detention Europe Access to legal rights

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Jago Russell focuses on the impact of pretrial defence

June 8, 2021

India: remote hearings and the rights of accused persons

Analysis Opinion

Coronavirus Asia Access to legal rights India

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Madhurima Dhanuka discusses the impact of remote hearings on fair trials.

June 7, 2021

Kenya: finding Kafka in the criminal justice system

Analysis Opinion

Africa Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Justice Kenya

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Gilbert M. Omware, Defence lawyer and criminal justice researcher, discusses the injustices faced by vulnerable group…

June 2, 2021

Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in ten countries

Thematic paper

Africa Crises Pre-trial detention Asia Elderly prisoners Europe Access to legal rights Health Mental health Drugs Material conditions Overcrowding Social ties

An international research and policy project carried out by the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR) at Birkbeck, University of London

May 28, 2021

France: women in prison and gender-based violence

Interview

Women Europe Long-term prisoners France

As of January 2020, women represent 3.6% of the total incarcerated population. Across 187 French correctional facilities, only three exclusively house women. Yet more women than men are sentenced to prison terms exceeding ten years. What role does gender-based violence play in the incarceration of…

May 27, 2021

España: La única cárcel para curas del mundo estaba en Zamora: celdas de 5m², torturas y el método del gusano

News

Europe Material conditions Torture Religion Spain

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

May 27, 2021

España: los suicidios en las cárceles aumentan con la pandemia

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Spain

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

May 27, 2021

España: ¿Por qué las mujeres son menos del 8% de la población reclusa en España? Así son las cárceles femeninas en nuestro país

News

Women Europe Health Spain

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

May 27, 2021

Guatemala: sangriento motín en cárcel de Guatemala deja siete reos decapitados

News

Central America and the Caribbean Violence Guatemala

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

May 27, 2021

España: cuatro de las 12 operaciones contra el yihadismo en 2021 en España tuvieron lugar en cárceles

News

Europe Protest Violence Religion Spain

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

May 27, 2021

Géorgie : tuberculose, les prisons, viviers pour les souches multirésistantes

News

Asia Europe Health Overcrowding Georgia

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

May 27, 2021

Cameroun : deux personnes transgenres condamnées à de la prison ferme

News

Africa LGBTQI Justice Cameroon

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

May 26, 2021

China: welfare petition with 100,000 signatures pours heat on Hong Kong prison bosses to protect inmates from sweltering weather

News

Asia Health Material conditions Overcrowding China

The drive, initiated by rights group Wall-fare which was set up by former opposition lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun, urges measures such as cold water, improved ventilation and extra showers.

May 26, 2021

Thailand: prison overcrowding crisis exacerbated by COVID-19

News

Coronavirus Asia Health Overcrowding Thailand

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, prisons in Thailand were already in a state of crisis. Reform is long overdue.

May 25, 2021

Cambodia: UN offers Covid assistance at Preah Sihanouk prison

News

Coronavirus Asia Health Material conditions Cambodia

The UN in Cambodia will provide material to Preah Sihanouk provincial prison to help prevent Covid-19 transmission after 34 cases were found among detainees on May 8.

May 25, 2021

South Africa: inmates complain about the excessive use of force by prison officials

News

Africa Protest Violence South Africa

The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) said it has been approached by inmates, officials, and associations representing inmates, to address the alleged excessive use of force by correctional officials on inmates.

May 18, 2021

Egypt: family of detainee who alleged torture and sexual abuse in prison arrested

News

Middle East Torture Violence Egypt

Parents and sibling of Abdelrahman al-Shweikh were arrested after family shared information about treatment of the political prisoner

May 11, 2021

Colombia: octava jornada de protestas mientras organizaciones denuncian cerca de 40 fallecidos

News

South America Protest Violence Colombia

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