In a region characterized by dire socio-economic conditions, the plight of prisoners is often especially bad. Particularly vulnerable in the prison population are juveniles, women and children, the sick and individuals detained for long periods without trial. This is especially so because of a lack of implementation of relevant international and regional human rights standards. Prison populations are not a priority and policy development and implementation in regard to penal reform is often ignored  by governments unless specific advocacy is done on behalf of this constituency.

SALC’s Work on Prisoners’ Rights

SALC has helped to support the promotion and protection of prisoner’s rights in the region by supporting training, advocacy and litigation. SALC has introduced local partners to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention  ( WGAD) and has assisted NGO’s in writing formal complaints to the UN WGAD. SALC has also helped provide research, litigation and advocacy support on issues such as sentencing juveniles “at the pleasure of the president”; keeping an accused  in prison for an unreasonable time without a trial and setting unreasonable bail conditions. SALC has further supported advocacy work on the conditions of detention, the right to accessing medicine and the right to adequate nutrition.