{"id":3739,"date":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.conectas.org.inf.br\/wp\/noticias\/prisons-at-the-heart-of-the-debate\/"},"modified":"2018-01-29T20:26:59","modified_gmt":"2018-01-29T20:26:59","slug":"prisons-at-the-heart-of-the-debate","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/en\/noticias\/prisons-at-the-heart-of-the-debate\/","title":"Prisons at the heart of the debate","content":"

Upon completing the cycle of complaints<\/u><\/a> on the Brazilian prison system, Conectas ended its participation in the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council with an appeal to support the bill banning abusive searches in the country and a commitment to the establishment of new rules for the treatment of prisoners.<\/p>\n

In an oral statement<\/u><\/a> prepared together with the Criminal Justice Network, of which Conectas is part, the lawyer Vivian Calderoni revealed that over a 12 month period only 0.03% of visitors were caught trying to smuggle mobile phones or drugs into prisons in the state of S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbusive searches are an unacceptable practice that constitute inhumane and degrading treatment, and inflict physical and mental suffering,\u201d she said. \u201cNevertheless, they are performed regularly in Brazil, in violation of the principle of human dignity.\u201d Calderoni ended her presentation by urging the United Nations to support the approval of Senate Bill No. 480\/2013, which would ban these types of searches in the country.<\/p>\n

Minimum Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n

In another oral statement<\/u><\/a> jointly prepared with CELS of Argentina and Corporaci\u00f3n Humanas of Chile, the representative of Conectas in Geneva, Paulo Lugon, called for a greater commitment from UN Member States to the process of Review of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners \u2013 a document prepared in 1956 to ensure respect for the dignity of prisoners and to guarantee them healthcare and the right to a defense.<\/p>\n

The fourth meeting of the Group of Experts on the matter was scheduled to take place in Bras\u00edlia in February, but was cancelled<\/u><\/a> by Brazil with less than a week\u2019s notice, during the height of the Pedrinhas prison crisis.<\/p>\n

Lugon pointed out that many countries base their prison administration standards exclusively on the Minimum Rules and he called for a commitment from the Council members in the upcoming rounds of talks.<\/p>\n

Watch the statements in full:<\/p>\n