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Spotlight:
PRI and TIJ launch Global Prison Trends 2020
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PRI's Global Prison Trends 2020 Webinar
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PRI's Global Prison Trends 2020, published in collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice, documents the consequences of a record 11 million people held in prisons worldwide, with over 120 countries exceeding their prisons' maximum occupancy rate. The report explores how the increase in numbers is driven by a punitive approach to criminal justice where more costly prison sentences are favoured over non-custodial alternatives. This year's Global Prison Trends looks at:
- Crime, justice and imprisonment, e.g. what offences are driving up prison numbers
- Trends in the use of imprisonment, including the funding of penitentiary systems
- Prison populations such as women, children, older persons and minority groups
- Prison management including use of equipment, self-governance of facilities and innovative rehabilitation programmes
- The role and use of technology in prisons, including Artificial Intelligence
The special focus of Global Prison Trends 2020 advocates for an increase in the use of alternatives to detention as a solution to the global prison crisis, immediately with COVID-19 and in the long-term to reduce reoffending rates, better protect human rights and tackle overcrowding.
To mark the launch of Global Prison Trends 2020 international criminal justice practitioners and human rights leaders, including United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris and the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Joel Hernández García participated in our online webinar launch to discuss the report and PRI’s call to governments to urgently reduce their prison populations amidst the coronavirus pandemic, and begin a long-term shift towards alternatives to detention.
Our launch and report were also covered by The Guardian "Pandemic potentially a 'death sentence' for many prison inmates, experts warn" on 23 March 2020.
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Latest on our response to COVID-19
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From the early stages of the outbreak, we have been at the forefront of leading efforts to encourage governments to allow early release for non-violent and vulnerable detainees, alternatives to detention for minor offences and short sentences. We have worked to secure humane conditions of detention which respect human rights by ensuring provision of proper sanitation and healthcare for all people in the criminal justice system, and the adoption of preventive and counter measures to contain and address the outbreak of COVID-19 in detention centres. Since our last update to you on 31 March 2020:
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Help us continue to help governments prevent the spread of COVID-19 in places of detention by making a donation today.
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Working with law students to protect human rights and increase access to justice in Kazakhstan
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PRI has been working alongside law students from the M. Utemissov West Kazakhstan State University (WKSU) in Uralsk to increase access to justice by helping them conduct research on various human rights issues in Kazakhstan as part of a Capstone Project – supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kazakhstan which seeks to strengthen research skills for students.
This year, 21 participants, divided into seven teams, chose different topics, such as alternatives to detention and torture prevention. This week the teams will be submitting their final research papers to be evaluated from the Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Public lectures were given with the participation of professors from both universities, human rights defenders and state bodies’ representatives. This year, the project received support from the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
PRI's has been involved in the project since its inception, in an effort to shape young legal leaders' minds, and to ensure human rights standards are at the forefront of Kazakhstan's legal system.
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PRI takes part in the #WeApplaud campaign to applaud prison staff who are facing particular challenges, like many other ‘essential’ or ‘frontline’ workers amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Find out more about the campaign by clicking here.
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The Omega Research Foundation writes on our blog about the growth of less lethal weapons used in places of detention
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The usage and types of equipment in prisons and other places of detention is wide ranging and varies from country to country. In this expert blog for PRI, the Omega Research Foundation reflects on the growth of less lethal weapons available to officers and ongoing efforts for transparency. They explain:
"The prison supply sector has seen a growth in number of manufacturers and traders worldwide, promoting a wider range of products directly to prison authorities. Specialist trade events have been developed, sponsored by manufacturers, to market prison equipment direct to officials, including for example ‘Mock Prison Riot’ in the United States. Cases of manufacturers providing inappropriate training to prison staff, eg on use of restraints to place prisoners in hyper-extended positions (‘hog-tying’) or in the use of batons for neck holds have been discovered. These techniques are similar to those that the Council of Europe’s Committee for Prevention of Torture (amongst others) has recommended be prohibited.
Whilst manufacturers’ product safety and use guidelines may be useful, relevant authorities should conduct their own human rights based, independent and transparent testing before selecting, purchasing or deploying equipment. They must ensure that any equipment is appropriate to the stated tactical use. All users must be trained in each type of equipment, and understand the medical and safety implications of its use. Prison authorities should produce their own policies, procedures and guidelines on use which must comply with international human rights standards and must ensure that any use of force or equipment is proportionate, lawful, accountable and necessary."
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