A practical handbook covering the architecture, engineering, design and operation of prisons. It is intended for all ICRC delegates working in places of detention, whether they have extensive practical experience or are new to the field.
We have long been working to prevent and end sexual violence in armed conflicts and to ensure that the countless victims – men, women, boys and girls – receive the help they need.
In this document, we examine sexual violence specifically in relation to people deprived of their liberty. We c
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onsider why individuals are at risk of sexual violence in detention and how to prevent and reduce that risk. We also set out some potential steps to take when sexual violence occurs.
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COVID-19 poses challenges in places of detention, given the specific vulnerabilities of detainees and difficulty of containing outbreaks in such settings. The ICRC's approach to COVID-19 in detention is anchored in support to the authorities who are
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primarily and ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of detainees and staff.
In the context of a public health crisis, it is crucial to ensure good communication with detainees, staff and visitors on the scale of the pandemic and the measures taken to prevent its spread.
The ICRC has produced three sensitization and training videos for use by detaining authorities and for all in the wider public who may be affected by detention, such as families of detainees. Using an existing virtual prison environment, the recommended response of a fictional detaining authority is portrayed.
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EU Policies Contribute to Abuse of Migrants in Libya
This report documents severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, malnutrition, and lack of adequate health care. Human Rights Watch found violent abuse by guards in four official detention centers in western Libya, including beatings and whippin
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gs. Human Rights Watch witnessed large numbers of children, including newborns, detained in grossly unsuitable conditions in three out of the four detention centers. Almost 20 percent of those who reached Europe by sea from Libya in 2018 were children.
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The guidelines acknowledge that overcrowding, unhygienic conditions and high inmate turn over contribute to the spread of infectious diseases within correctional facilities. The document states that voluntary HIV counselling and testing must be offered to all inmates when they enter facilities, duri
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ng their incarceration at an inmate’s request and upon their release. All inmates must be screened for TB symptoms upon entry to facilities and at least bi-annually thereafter as well as upon release. Universal screening for anal, oral and genital STIs must be done at entry and upon self-presentation
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Recommendations and Reports: July 7, 2006 / Vol. 55 / No. RR-9
Health and Human Rights Journal
December 2016 / Volume 18 / Number 2 / Papers, 171-182
Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Human Rights, Minimum Standards and Monitoring at the European and International Levels
Working Document, September 2017
(Advance unedited version)