News

Detention of doctor leads to suspension of Obiang prize

UNESCO was in the process of awarding a prize purportedly for "research in the life sciences" to be sponsored by President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea. His administration's unjustified detention of Wenceslao Mansongo Alo, a doctor critical of his government, has lead to UNESCO suspending acceptance of President Obiang's sponsorship, after the detention was brought to their attention. UNESCO is due to decide on the prize at its meeting in Paris, France.

Puntland (Somalia) police shut down radio station and detain director

AllAfrica reports that armed police raided the premises of Radio Voice of Peace (Codka Nabada Radio) in Boosaaso on Saturday 3 March 2012, around 20h20 local time, confiscating broadcasting equipment.

Two British journalists arrested last month by a Libyan militia group have been accused of spying.

United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners under review

An intergovernmental expert group met in January 2012 to consider the way forward.

South African budget aims to ease pressure on courts

This week’s Budget brought good news for the upgrading and construction of court buildings, a Sake24 report notes.

"Prisoners subject to physical and moral violence of an inhuman and degrading nature" finds Togo's national human rights commission.

THE Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company yesterday disconnected water supply to all prisons in Central province to recover more than K200million (US$38000) owed in water bills, placing prisoners lives in jeopardy.

Ralph Kasambara, former Attorney-General and lawyer who has brought many of the most recent important human rights or rule of law cases in Malawi to court, has been detained in prison after defending himself from petrol bombers.

Cameroon - slowest justice system in the world?

Overworked investigating judges and a lack of lawyers leads to inordinate delays in Bafang, Cameroon.

Forty foreign NGO workers to be charged and 19 banned from leaving the country.

Congo Minister spends New Year with young inmates

The Minister of Youth and Civic Education in Republic of the Congo, Anatole Collinet Makosso, spent New Year's day with young offenders in Brazzaville prison and delivered civic education materials to the prison.

Article 5 Initiative launched at old Breakwater Prison

On 13 December, following International Human Rights Day, the Article 5 Initiative (A5I) was launched at the Breakwater Lodge in Cape Town. The Article 5 Initiative aims to support African institutions to improve domestic compliance with international law obligations, norms and procedures under the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

Submission by CSPRI on torture in prisons to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services

On 30 November 2011, CSPRI’s Project Coordinator Lukas Muntingh presented a submission on the prevention and eradication of torture in South African prisons to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services (PCCS).

WaterAid launches handwashing project in Burkina prisons

The "Clean hands in prison" campaign is focused on raising awareness on the importance of washing hands, reducing the prevalence and transmission rates of diseases brought about by a lack of hygiene and sanitation in jails.

Up to 32 million Congolese are due to head to the polls on Monday 28 November after a weekend marked by deadly street clashes and allegations of cheating

Human Rights Watch calls on Moroccan authorities to stop harassing those campaigning for a boycott of elections.

Chief Justice of Nigeria criticises use of holding charges

Top judge condemns the practice of filing holding charges against accused persons and “trial by public parade of suspects on pages of newspapers and on the television” and blames the practice for congestion in prisons.

On 14 November, CSPRI researcher, Gwénaëlle Dereymaeker, presented the CSPRI submission on the Implementation of the Geneva Conventions Bill B10-2011 before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans.

Human Rights Watch called on the Guinean government to investigate the role of two high-level officials in the apparent illegal detention and intimidation of members of a prominent Guinean human rights group.

'Detention used to stifle dissent in Uganda'

Amnesty International released a report on 1 November 2011 which accuses the Ugandan state of targeting critical journalists, civil society activists and opposition political leaders with "arbitrary arrest, intimidation, threats and politically motivated criminal charges".

Volcano threatens Goma prison

Africa's most active volcano, Nyamuragira, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, began erupting on the night of 6 November 2011.

Article 5 Initiative responded to the open call by the UN Committee against Torture to comment on the working document of the General Comment on Article 14 of the UN Convention against Torture.

CSPRI researcher, Gwénaëlle Dereymaeker, attended the 50th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which took place from 24 October to 7 November 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia.

Prisons are a source of HIV infection, says Festus Mogae.

Tanzania's human rights report was submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in terms of the Universal Periodic Review process on Monday 3 October 2011.

The October 2011 edition of 30 Days/Dae/Izinsuku is now available on our website. "30 Days/Dae/Izinsuku" covers domestic and major international media reporting on prison related issues sourced from press reviews, newspapers and websites.

The September 2011 edition of 30 Days/Dae/Izinsuku is now available on our website. "30 Days/Dae/Izinsuku" covers domestic and major international media reporting on prison related issues sourced from press reviews, newspapers and websites.

On 24 August, CSPRI researcher, Clare Ballard, presented a submission to the Portfolio Committee for Justice and Constitutional Development on the proposed amendments to the ‘use of deadly force’ provisions in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority Bill, 2011