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Spotlight:
A word from PRI's new Executive Director
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This month, Florian Irminger joined PRI as its new Executive Director. In his first blog for the organisation, Florian discusses the strength of PRI's pragmatic approach, which includes building alliances and engaging with those working in the criminal justice system at all levels, from policymakers to prison staff. PRI's strong regional presence, establishment of local staff and fantastic local partners are credited for the organisation's ability to create long-term sustainable change and play a key role in implementing international standards. Looking to the future, Florian outlines how, as well as challenging the increasing use of life imprisonment and campaigning for the abolition of the death penalty, PRI will continue to support countries in reducing their prison populations and increasing the use of alternative sanctions.
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News: Prison radio launch and programme developments
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On 12 September in Morocco, PRI launched the first Prison Radio Station in the Middle East and North Africa region. The aim of the radio station is to provide prisoners and prison staff with the opportunity to discuss important issues. On 5 September, PRI's office in Central Asia hosted a roundtable on international standards for effective prison management, as part of an ongoing project in Kyrgyzstan to implement a state programme tackling radicalisation and violent extremism.
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News: PRI co-hosts international conference in Bogota on women in detention
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On 5–7 September, PRI and the Cyrus R.Vance Center for International Justice hosted an international conference on women in prison in Bogota, Colombia. The conference brought together 45 advocates from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, including formerly imprisoned women, to share information about conditions of women’s imprisonment in their respective countries and regions and build capacity for improved and collaborative monitoring, reporting and advocacy regarding such conditions.
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News: PRI at Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
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Expert Blog: Tobacco use in prison settings
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In this expert blog for PRI, Heino Stöver, Professor of Social Scientific Addiction Research at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, discusses smoking in prisons, its significance and efforts to reduce its prevalence. In contrast to many programmes that only regulate where prisoners and staff can smoke, the blog explains why a comprehensive approach to smoking in prisons is needed, including tobacco cessation support and the promotion of alternative methods to handle stress and boredom.
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Submission for the revision of the European Prison Rules
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Eight areas of the European Prison Rules are being revised to align them with the Nelson Mandela Rules, European Court of Human Rights judgements and other standards. Ahead of discussions at the Council of Europe on 17–19 September 2018, PRI, together with the Association for the Prevention of Torture, submitted proposals on the draft changes. The Rules are a key reference for both prison administrations and staff in the region, and they are also used by monitoring bodies and civil society, providing guidance on how to uphold the rights of people in prison in practice.
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News: 39th Session of Human Rights Council
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The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights published its report on the implementation of the relevant human rights joint commitments of states in the UNGASS Outcome document on drugs. In an oral statement delivered at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council, PRI welcomed the report, which covers proportionate sentencing and alternatives to detention for drug-related offences, as well as harm reduction in prisons. PRI also sponsored a side event at the Council on implementing drug control policies with a human rights perspective, and made a video intervention.
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