Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

May 25, 2021

South Africa: inmates complain about the excessive use of force by prison officials

News

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 11, 2021

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

News

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

News

Africa Women Justice Protest Algeria

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

May 11, 2021

Niger: the cost of living

Testimonial

Africa Pre-trial detention Health Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Violence Niger

Two prisoners attest to their conditions in overpopulated prisons. A way to survive: pay, every month, for access to better prison conditions.

May 6, 2021

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

News

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 3, 2021

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

News

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

Ghana: Ho prison infirmary upgraded to health centre

News

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

Egypt: nine people put to death in chilling Ramadan executions

News

Africa Middle East Death penalty Egypt

By carrying out these executions during the holy month of Ramadan the Egyptian authorities have displayed a ruthless determination to persist with their escalating use of the death penalty.

April 15, 2021

Egypt: building Egypt’s expansive and oppressive prison system

News

Africa Material conditions Egypt

A new report from the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) reveals how Egypt built dozens of jails since the January 2011 revolution to keep thousands of prisoners, including roughly 65,000 prisoners of conscience, behind bars.

April 8, 2021

Nigeria: IPOB reacts to attack on Imo prison, reports of ESN links to south-east crisis

News

Africa Violence Nigeria

The IPOB also reiterated that its members and the Eastern Security Network have never involved in assaulting Nigeria’s security operatives.

April 8, 2021

Nigeria: how at least 2,000 inmates were freed by gunmen at Imo prison

News

Africa Protest Violence Nigeria

The gunmen also attacked the nearby office of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the state police command, also freeing suspects there.

March 18, 2021

Managing uncertainty in prison: diverse responses to COVID-19

Analysis Thematic paper

Africa Coronavirus Crises Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Europe Material conditions Social ties

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

South Africa: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Africa Coronavirus Health Material conditions Protest Overcrowding Activities Social ties South Africa

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the South African authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 17, 2021

Argelia: tácticas represivas contra activistas de Hirak dos años después

News

Africa Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Torture Violence Algeria

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

March 1, 2021

South Africa: investigating prison for profit

News

Africa Material conditions Facilities Torture Violence South Africa

Violence has deep roots in South Africa, going back to colonial conquest and the apartheid state. Which is why those who end up in prison receive very little sympathy, and even less coverage in the national press.

February 24, 2021

Zimbabwe: prison inmates urged to embrace Covid-19 vaccine

News

Africa Coronavirus Health Zimbabwe

PRISON inmates have been encouraged to embrace the Covid-19 vaccine whose rollout programme that has been approved by the government. Zimbabwe this week received 200 000 doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine from China whose roll out begins today. The Vaccination programme has an overall target o…

February 24, 2021

République démocratique du Congo : comment lutter contre la malnutrition et les maladies dans les prisons ?

News

Africa Health Congo - Kinshasa

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

February 15, 2021

Algérie : des ONG se mobilisent contre la torture et les conditions de détention

News

Africa Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Justice Protest Torture Violence Algeria

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

February 8, 2021

Guinée : "décédé de mort naturelle" un constat qui se multiplie à la prison de Conakry en Guinée

News

Africa Access to legal rights Health Material conditions Guinea

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

February 2, 2021

Guinea: deaths in detention and prison sentence for opposition members

Africa Access to legal rights Health Material conditions Protest Guinea

Authorities in Guinea must investigate the deaths of at least four people in detention and end a wave of arrests targeting at least 400 opposition and civil society members.

February 1, 2021

Maroc : des personnes pénalement irresponsables en prison, alerte sur une anomalie carcérale

News

Africa Access to legal rights Justice Mental health Morocco

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

January 26, 2021

Egypt: abused and denied heath care, prisoners’ lives at risk

News

Africa Coronavirus Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Justice Health Material conditions Overcrowding Torture Violence Egypt

Amnesty International said in a new damning report today highlighting how prison authorities’ callousness has led or contributed to deaths in custody and irreparable harm to prisoners’ health.

January 18, 2021

Africa: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Africa Coronavirus Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 has not stopped at prison gates. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? — Update 31/12/2021

December 22, 2020

Egypt: collective punishment at prison

News

Africa Access to legal rights Discipline Justice Protest Torture Violence Egypt

A human rights watchdog Thursday accused Egyptian authorities of making modifications to a notorious Cairo prison that amount to “collective punishment” of inmates following an escape attempt that left four policemen dead. Egyptian security agencies last month had construction workers make changes…