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Spotlight:
The right to hope: PRI co-hosts international strategy forum on life imprisonment
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This week, Penal Reform International and the University of Nottingham organised an international civil society strategy forum on life imprisonment, which took place in London from 11–12 December 2018. The two-day forum brought together key civil society actors, stakeholders from academic institutions and practitioners from around the world to strategise on how to tackle the increased use of life imprisonment. A number of workshops were held to discuss key issues, to reflect upon what has worked in similar movements and to strategise on how the UN Crime Congress in 2020 can be used to encourage UN member states to re-evaluate guidance on life imprisonment. The organisations present agreed to work towards forming a global coalition on life imprisonment in 2019.
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Expert blog: Breaking the cycle of violence against LGBTI persons in detention
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In a new expert blog, Jean-Sébastien Blanc of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) discusses the situation of LGBTI persons in detention who face human rights violations and abuses, including by fellow detainees, throughout the criminal justice system. Jean-Sébastien also discusses a new tool published by the APT, which provides guidance on monitoring LGBTI prisoners in different types of detention facilities.
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News: PRI opens new units in Yemen women's prison
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PRI’s office in the Middle East and North Africa recently renovated and opened two new units in a women’s prison in Yemen, with the aim of improving conditions for prisoners. The first unit was a mother and baby unit for up to 50 women, and the second was a medical unit consisting of a ward, a medical isolation room, a doctor’s room and an integrated laboratory, with three months of liquid solutions to provide health services to up to 800 prisoners.
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External resource: Council of Europe reports on trends in European prisons
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The Council of Europe has published two new reports which reflect on trends in European prisons over the past decade. The first report, Prisons in Europe 2005–2015, discusses the geographical distribution of prison population rates across Europe, whilst the second examines the evolution of foreign offenders in prisons or under probation from 2009–2015.
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Expert blog: Combatting the trade and use of weapons and restraints for torture and ill-treatment
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Despite the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment that is firmly established in international law and in the UN Nelson Mandela Rules, there are no global prohibitions on the manufacture, trade and use of torture equipment. In a new blog for PRI, Dr Abi Dymond of the Omega Research Foundation addresses this issue and discusses a new resource by Omega, which aims to assist monitors to document weapons and restraints used in detention.
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News: PRI launches reintegration centre in Krygrystan
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PRI’s office in Central Asia, in collaboration with the British Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, has launched a new penitentiary probation centre at the Jalal-Abad prison in South Kyrgyzstan, to facilitate resocialisation and reintegration services for prisoners. The centre will provide various programmes, including art and needlework, as well as training courses and assistance from a professional psychologist.
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External resource: International survey of anti-terrorism legislation and children's rights
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In many countries, children are routinely detained without charge for long periods of time under counter-terrorism powers. Children convicted of offences such as association with a terrorist group are punished with harsh and sometimes extreme penalties. In a new report, the Child Rights International Network researches anti-terrorism legislation in 33 countries and finds that counter-terrorism measures are leading to extensive violations of children’s rights.
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