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1 HUMANRIGHTSANDPRISONSA Pocketbook ofInternational HUMAN RightsStandards for prison OfficialsUNITED NATIONSNew York and Geneva, 2005 HUMAN RightsProfessionalTrainingSeries 13:47 Page iNOTEThe designations employed and the presentation of thematerial in this publication do not imply the expression ofany opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat ofthe United Nations concerning the legal status of anycountry, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, orconcerning the delimitation of its frontiers or contained in this publication may be freely quotedor reprinted, provided credit is given and a copy of thepublication containing the reprinted material is sent to theOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for HumanRights, Palais des Nations, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 10, NATIONS PUBLICATIONS ales No.
2 92-1-154158-1 ISSN 13:47 Page iiNOTE TO USERS OF THE POCKETBOOKThis Pocketbook is one component of the four-partpublication HUMAN RIGHTS and PRISONS a HUMAN rightstraining package for prison officials. The four componentsare designed to complement each other and, takentogether, provide all necessary elements for the conduct ofhuman RIGHTS training programmes for prison officials,under the training approach developed by the Office of theUnited Nations High Commissioner for HUMAN Manual(component one of the package) provides in-depth information on sources, systems and standards forhuman RIGHTS relating to the work of prison officials,practical recommendations, topics for discussion, casestudies and Compilation(component two of the package)
3 Includes excerpts from and full texts of selectedinternational HUMAN RIGHTS instruments concerning theadministration of Trainer s Guide(component three of the package)provides instructions and tips for trainers to be usedtogether with the Manual in conducting training coursesfor prison Pocketbookof international HUMAN RIGHTS standards(component four of the package) is designed to be a readilyaccessible and portable reference for prison officials,containing a comprehensive collection of 13:47 Page iiistandards organized according to prison officials dutiesand functions, and topics, and referenced with of the Manual, the Compilation, the Trainer s Guideand this Pocketbook may be obtained from:Office of the United Nations High Commissioner forHuman RIGHTS Palais des Nations8-14 avenue de la Paix CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerlandweb : 13:47 Page ivCONTENTSPageNote to users of the Pocketbook.
4 IiiAbbreviations for international instruments cited in the Pocketbook ..viiINTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS FORPRISON OFFICIALSVIII. General Principles ..1 VIII. Right to Physical and Moral Integrity ..1 VIII. Right to an Adequate Standard of Living ..4 IIIIV. Health RIGHTS of Prisoners ..5 IIIIV. Making PRISONS Safe Places ..8 IIVI. Making the Best Use of PRISONS ..9 IVII. Prisoners Contact with the Outside World ..11 VIII. Complaints and Inspection Procedures ..12 IIIX. Special Categories of Prisoners .. Non-discrimination .. Women in prison .. Juveniles in detention .. Prisoners under sentence of death .. Life and long-term prisoners ..17 IIIX. Persons under Detention without Sentence.
5 18 IIXI. Non-custodial Measures .. Administration of PRISONS and prison .. 13:47 Page 13:47 Page viABBREVIATIONSFOR INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTSCITED IN THEPOCKETBOOKB eijing RulesUnited Nations Standard MinimumRules for the Administration ofJuvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules)BPTB asic Principles for the Treatmentof PrisonersCATC onvention against Torture andOther Cruel, Inhuman or Degra-ding Treatment or PunishmentCEDAWC onvention on the Elimination ofAll Forms of Discrimination againstWomenCode of ConductCode of Conduct for Law Enforce-ment OfficialsCRCC onvention on the RIGHTS of theChildDeath PenaltySafeguards guaranteeing protec-Safeguardstion of the RIGHTS of those facingthe death penaltyDeclaration onDeclaration on the Protection ofEnforced DisappearanceAll Persons from EnforcedDisappearanceDeclaration on ViolenceDeclaration on the Elimination ofagainst WomenViolence against WomenICCPRI nternational Covenant on Civiland Political 13.
6 47 Page viiICESCRI nternational Covenant onEconomic, Social and CulturalRightsPrinciples of MedicalPrinciples of Medical Ethics Ethics relevant to the Role of HealthPersonnel, particularly Physicians,in the Protection of Prisoners andDetainees against Torture andOther Cruel,Inhuman orDegrading Treatment orPunishmentPrinciples on DetentionBody of Principles for the or ImprisonmentProtection of All Persons underAny Form of Detention or Impri-sonmentPrinciples on Force andBasic Principles on the Use ofFirearmsForce and Firearms by LawEnforcement OfficialsPrinciples on SummaryPrinciples on the EffectiveExecutionsPrevention and Investigations of Extra-legal, Arbitrary andSummary ExecutionsRobben IslandGuidelines and Measures for GuidelinesProhibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman orDegrading Treatment orPunishment in Africa (The RobbenIsland Guidelines)
7 Rules for JuvenilesUnited Nations Rules for theProtection of Juveniles Deprived oftheir 13:47 Page viiiSMRS tandard Minimum Rules for theTreatment of PrisonersTokyo RulesUn ited Nations StandardMinimum Rules for Non-custodialMeasures (The Tokyo Rules)UDHRU niversal Declaration of 13:47 Page 13:47 Page xINTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTSSTANDARDS FOR prison OFFICIALS*I. General PrinciplesInternational HUMAN RIGHTS law is binding on all States andtheir agents, including prison RIGHTS are a legitimate subject for international lawand international enforcement officials are obliged to know, and toapply, international standards for HUMAN Right to Physical and Moral IntegritySTARTAll HUMAN beings are born free and equal in dignity * For the precise language of the provisions as contained in the internationalinstruments, those instruments should be consulted directly.
8 Almost all theinstruments cited are reproduced in component two of this trainingpackage, HUMAN RIGHTS and PRISONS : A Compilation of International HumanRights Instruments concerning the Administration of Justice(Office of theUnited Nations High Commissioner for HUMAN RIGHTS ( OHCHR ), ProfessionalTraining Series No. 9 ); and OHCHR , HUMAN RIGHTS : A Compilation ofInternational Instruments, vol. I (2 parts), Universal Instruments (UnitedNations publication, Sales No. ). 13:47 Page 1 HUMAN RIGHTS derive from the inherent dignity of thehuman persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated at alltimes with humanity and with respect for the inherentdignity of the HUMAN one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumanor degrading treatment or punishment.
9 There are is defined as any act by which severe physical ormental pain or suffering is intentionally inflicted on aperson, other than that which is inherent in or incidentalto lawful is defined as other acts of cruel, inhuman ordegrading treatment or punishment which do not amountto act of torture committed as part of a widespread orsystematic attack directed against any civilian population,with knowledge of the attack, is a crime prisoner shall be subjected, even with his or herconsent, to any medical or scientific experimentationwhich may be detrimental to torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearancesand summary executions are completely 13:47 Page 2 All law enforcement officials shall be fully informed andeducated about the prohibition of torture and statement made as a result of torture shall not beinvoked as evidence in any proceedings, except as evidenceto bring the perpetrators to from a superior officer may not be invoked as ajustification of enforcement officials may use force only when it isstrictly individual who alleges that he or she has beensubjected to torture has the right to complain and to havethe case promptly and impartially examined by deaths in custody and disappearances of prisoners shallbe properly interrogation rules, instructions.
10 Methods and practicespertaining to detained and imprisoned persons shall bekept under systematic review with a view to deprived of their liberty shall be held in placeswhich are officially recognized as places of detailed register shall be kept of every person deprivedof 13:47 Page 3 All prisoners shall be provided promptly with writteninformation about the regulations which apply to themand on their RIGHTS and families, legal representatives and, if appropriate,diplomatic missions of prisoners are to receive fullinformation about the fact of their detention and wherethey are prisoners shall be offered a proper medical examinationand treatment as soon as possible after Right to an Adequate Standard of LivingAll persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated withhumanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of thehuman persons deprived of their liberty shall have the right toan adequate standard of living, including adequate food.