Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

May 26, 2021

Thailand: prison overcrowding crisis exacerbated by COVID-19

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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

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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

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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

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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

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South America Protest Violence Colombia

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

May 11, 2021

Malawi: death penalty defeated as Supreme Court of Appeal rules it unconstitutional

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Africa Death penalty Malawi

The Supreme Court of Appeal in Malawi has ruled the death penalty unconstitutional

May 11, 2021

Argelia: condenada a dos años de cárcel una destacada activista por insultos al presidente y ofensas al islam

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Africa Women Justice Protest Algeria

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

May 11, 2021

Mexico: seen in the press / 2021

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Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

Violence, acts of protest, prison conditions, justice reforms: find out what is new about prisons and justice in this country. Prison Insider monitors the press on a regular basis.

May 11, 2021

Mexico: seen in the press / 2022

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Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

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

May 6, 2021

Russia: release prominent lawyer defending Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation from arbitrary detention

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Pre-trial detention Europe Access to legal rights Justice Russia

Ivan Pavlov, human rights lawyer and the head of the human rights group Komanda 29 (Team 29), has worked on numerous high-profile cases. He was detained in the early hours of 30 April after a raid on the hotel where he was staying in Moscow. He was apprehended by the officers of the Federal Securit…

May 6, 2021

Guinée : après sept mois de détention arbitraire, le militant Oumar Sylla doit être libéré

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Africa Coronavirus Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Justice Health Guinea

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

May 6, 2021

Colombia: por qué el país está en un escenario sin precedentes

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South America Protest Violence Colombia

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

May 6, 2021

Malta: inmate claims solitary confinement retribution after speaking out on ‘campaign of terror’ in prison

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Europe Long-term prisoners Justice Material conditions Torture Violence Malta

A prisoner who spoke out on breach of human rights and systematic terror within the prison facility, has been barred from contacting the outside world and thrown into solitary confinement. Correctional Services Agency denies allegations

May 4, 2021

New Zealand: waikeria prison's role as a flashpoint for public debate about jails

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Oceania Protest Violence New Zealand

The fires that set Waikato’s waikeria Prison alight over summer may be out, but the impact of the protests there is ongoing.

May 4, 2021

Russia: Daghestani and Azerbaijani inmates sew mouths shut in Russia prison hunger strike

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Asia Health Material conditions Protest Torture Violence Russia

Nine inmates of a prison colony in Smolensk sew their lips shut as part of a hunger strike over “inhuman treatment” at the hands of prison guards.

May 4, 2021

Kazakhstan: two inmates in Kazakh prison swallow spoons to protest conditions

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Asia Material conditions Suicide Violence Kazakhstan

Two inmates in a prison in Kazakhstan’s western region of Manghystau have swallowed spoons to protest against prison conditions, prompting an inspection of the facility by representatives of the Public Monitoring Commission and the National Preventive Mechanism – groups created to prevent torture a…

May 3, 2021

Georgia: prosecutor’s office detains former prison employee for inhuman treatment of prisoners

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Europe Torture Georgia

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has detained an employee of Gldani prison, who systematically abused and mistreated prisoners in 2010-2012.

May 3, 2021

India: almost all jails in Maharashtra overcrowded, prison officials struggle to enforce ‘equitable distribution’

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Coronavirus Asia Material conditions Overcrowding India

In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, all jails, including Mumbai Central, Thane, Taloja, Kalyan, Byculla and Byculla women’s jail, are overcrowded.

May 3, 2021

Nigeria: tension in Kano prison as death row inmates protest confiscation of mobile phones, marijuana

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Africa Drugs Protest Death penalty Violence Social ties Niger

Some death row prisoners at Kurmawa Prison in Kano have staged protests over confiscation mobile phones, marijuana and other prohibited items smuggled to them by visitors.

April 29, 2021

Malta: the Corradino correctional facility is “diabolical” and the prison system should be completely revised

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Europe Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Rehabilitation Malta

Dean of the Faculty of social wellbeing Andrew Azzopardi said that it is “bursting at the seams”. “A few years ago, we were speaking about 200 to 300 people spending time in jail. It is now full up“

April 29, 2021

Bahrain: tensions rise in Bahrain prison as inmates' families protest conditions

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Coronavirus Middle East Health Protest Violence Bahrain

Tensions had been rising in the country’s main Jau prison since an outbreak of COVID-19 last month

April 29, 2021

Ghana: Ho prison infirmary upgraded to health centre

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Africa Health Material conditions Overcrowding Ghana

The Ho central prison infirmary has been upgraded to a health centre to properly serve the health needs of inmates and officers of the prison.

April 28, 2021

Italia: detenidos en Francia siete exmiembros de las Brigadas Rojas italianas

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Europe Foreign prisoners Justice Violence Italy

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

April 28, 2021

Irán impone otro año de cárcel a Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, la iranobritánica que liberó el pasado marzo

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Middle East Foreign prisoners Justice Material conditions Iran

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