Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 9, 2022

Nigeria: the rocky road towards abolition

Interview

Africa Justice Death penalty Nigeria

While its neighbouring countries move towards the abolition of capital punishment, Nigeria is one of the last sub-Saharan African nations to still apply the death penalty.

February 9, 2022

Liberia: Where inmates are short of food, space and uniforms

News

Africa Material conditions Liberia

When the food ran out for inmates at Liberia’s main prison earlier this month it exposed the terrible conditions that have long existed in the country’s jails.

January 18, 2022

Years in the Row

Analysis Thematic paper

Africa Women Asia Europe Minors Foreign prisoners Discipline Health Mental health Drugs Material conditions Overcrowding Death penalty Torture

Some people fear death every morning. Others are sentenced to death in countries that no longer carry out executions. At least 483 executions were documented in 2020. Prison Insider publishes an overview of practices in nine countries that have not abolished the death penalty.

January 18, 2022

DRC: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

Africa Access to legal rights Material conditions Death penalty Torture Social ties Congo - Kinshasa

Since 2003, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has observed a de facto moratorium on executions. The authorities do not release any information regarding the application of the death penalty in the country.

January 18, 2022

Mauritania: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

Africa Access to legal rights Material conditions Death penalty Torture Social ties Mauritania

Mauritania has a moratorium on executions. Figures about the prisoners sentenced to death are scarce, as is information on their detention conditions. These prisoners are under the same detention regime as the rest of the prison population.

January 18, 2022

Cameroon: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

Africa Access to legal rights Material conditions Death penalty Torture Social ties Cameroon

Since 2014, an anti-terrorism law has led to a sharp increase in death sentences in Cameroon. Official data is lacking and is sometimes inconsistent with figures published by civil society organisations.

January 17, 2022

Comoros: “The walls are crumbling by themselves”

Testimonial

Africa Minors Overcrowding Violence Comoros

Chamoun was incarcerated at Moroni Prison in Comoros. He tells us about the dilapidation, the starvation, the debauchery, and the violence.

January 17, 2022

J'ai survécu à la prison au Burundi

News

Africa Burundi

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

January 3, 2022

Au Sénégal, des députés veulent durcir les sanctions contre l’homosexualité

News

Africa LGBTQI Justice Senegal

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

December 23, 2021

Burundi : l’incendie d’une prison fait 38 morts et 69 blessés parmi les détenus

News

Africa Facilities Overcrowding Burundi

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

November 29, 2021

Burkina Faso: Humiliation of LGBTQI+ Prisoners

Testimonial

Africa LGBTQI Material conditions Torture Violence Burkina Faso

LGBTQI+ prisoners are sometimes deprived of food and water while incarcerated.

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November 25, 2021

Senegal: The Life of a Woman in Prison

Interview

Africa Women Senegal

In 2019, Senegal’s prison headcount was greater than 11,500. Of those prisoners, 2.7% were women. How do Senegalese prisons address the specific needs of female prisoners? We have endeavoured to answer this question through a visit to Liberté VI Women’s Prison.

November 23, 2021

DRC: Lack of Access to Healthcare

Report

Africa Health Material conditions Suicide Overcrowding Congo - Kinshasa

The Congolese Prison Observatory published a report in December 2019. It reported six deaths and one suicide attempt that year within this prison.

November 22, 2021

Togo : Les détenus privés de visite depuis le début de la pandémie de Covid-19

News

Africa Coronavirus Social ties Togo

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

November 9, 2021

Égypte : Le régime de Sissi, si fier de sa jolie nouvelle prison géante

News

Africa Facilities Egypt

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

November 8, 2021

Burkina Faso : “Des bombes à retardement“ : d’anciens détenus relâchés sans aucun suivi

News

Africa Violence Burkina Faso

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

October 26, 2021

Nigeria : 800 détenus s’évadent après une attaque dans une prison

News

Africa Nigeria

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

October 26, 2021

Ghana : un projet de loi menace de prison les homosexuels

News

Africa LGBTQI Justice Ghana

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

October 26, 2021

Morocco: 'De-radicalisation' offers prisoners route to freedom

News

Africa Morocco

Saleh has been languishing in Moroccan jails for 19 years on terrorism charges, but he hopes to be freed soon thanks to a de-radicalisation programme.

October 25, 2021

Rejection of LGBTQI+ people in Burkina Faso

Testimonial

Africa Pre-trial detention LGBTQI Material conditions Overcrowding Violence Burkina Faso

Karel tells us about detention conditions in Ouagadougou’s central police station and the treatment of incarcerated LGBTQI+ individuals.

October 15, 2021

South Africa: criminalizing poverty and homelessness

Africa Access to legal rights Justice Material conditions South Africa

Derrick Thulani Ndlovu discusses South Africa’s justice system and prison conditions with Danielle Louw, of Ndifuna Ukwazi (‘Dare to know’), a social justice activism group based in Cape Town.

October 12, 2021

Congo kinshasa : Nord-Kivu, 17 détenus libérés de la prison centrale de Butembo

News

Africa Overcrowding Congo - Kinshasa

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

October 11, 2021

A very disturbing situation

Interview

Africa Europe Middle East Torture Violence

The torture and abuse of prisoners have become commonplace over the years. How did these excesses come about? A recently published report takes up this topic.

October 7, 2021

Global Prison Trends 2021

Report

Africa Coronavirus Women Asia Europe Minors Middle East Oceania Health Material conditions Overcrowding Death penalty

More than eleven million people are imprisoned around the world. Of this number, 70% are awaiting trial, a percentage that has been continuously increasing since 2000.