Malawi works toward implementing custody time limits
Malawi's Constitution and amended Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code provide for time limits applicable to various stages of the criminal justice process, after which an accused person is no longer lawfully detained.
Mãos Livres prepares for Angola's first pre-trial audit
In mid-November 2013 members of the Angolan NGO Mãos Livres carried out detailed discussion and training on how best to conduct a pre-trial audit in Angola.
The purpose of the third workshop was to launch the final version of the DIPs in all A5I target countries. This took place on 13-14 November 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa and 20-21 November 2013 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
CSPRI paper uncovers de facto impunity for torture and other human rights violations by South African law enforcers
Recent high-profile incidents have drawn attention to the manner in which the police and the prison service conduct themselves.
Lukas Muntingh presented an investigation into whether subsets of the South African population reflect different law enforcement outcomes, and whether there is any evidence that this constitutes unfair discrimination in terms of the South African Constitution.
South Africa's President Zuma signed the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act No. 13 of 2013 into law on 25 July 2013.
CLC senior researcher presents at Public Interest Law Gathering
On 12 July 2013, Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative’s Clare Ballard from the Community Law Centre delivered a presentation at the Public Interest Law Gathering (PILG) about judicial oversight in relation to the various forms of detention and the importance of the ratification of the Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture.
CSPRI’s Jean Redpath on SAfm
Senior researcher at the Community Law Centre, Jean Redpath on national radio, debating whether the National Prosecuting Authority is fulfilling its mandate.
SALC and CHREAA launch study on nuisance-related arrests
The Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and Malawi's Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) launched a report at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe on their study of the law and practice relating to arrests for nuisance-related offences in Blantyre, Malawi. Senior judges and magistrates were in attendance at the launch, and Justice Edward Twea gave the keynote address.
CSPRI hosts a roundtable on remand detention
The Chief Deputy Commissioner for Remand in the Department of Correctional Services, Ms Britta Rotmann, explained the thinking behind the final draft white paper on remand detention at a roundtable in Cape Town on 23 May 2013.
CSPRI hosts a round table on South Africa's Remand Detention White Paper
The Chief Deputy Commissioner for Remand in the Department of Correctional Services, Ms Britta Rotmann, explained the thinking behind the final draft white paper on remand detention at a roundtable in Cape Town on 23 May 2013.
The organisation Front Line Defenders reported on 8 May 2012 that radio journalist and human rights defender Eric Topona was arrested and taken to prison after appearing before an investigating magistrate in N'Djamena and charged with “threatening the constitutional order”.
Members of the Seleka rebel coalition, which ousted President François Bozizé of the Central African Republic on March 24, 2013, have committed grave violations against civilians, including pillage, summary executions, rape, and torture, Human Rights Watch said on 10 May 2013.
10 000 Eritrean political prisoners 20 years after independence, says Amnesty
Amnesty International said in a report released on 9 May 2013 that Eritrea's prisons are filled with thousands of political prisoners, locked up without ever being charged with a crime, many of whom are never heard from again. Those detained include government critics, journalists and people practising an unregistered religion, as well as people trying to leave the country or avoid indefinite conscription into national service.
South Africa's white paper on remand detention management finalised
The final draft of the South African government's White Paper on Remand Detention Management has been published on the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) website, bringing the policy framework in line with provisions in Correctional Matters Amendment Act. The White Paper marks the end of a process aimed at closing a policy gap in the 2005 White Paper on Corrections in respect of awaiting-trial detainees.
Bossembele, known by some as "Guantanamo" of the Central African Republic, is one of Africa's most secret prisons, where ousted president Francois Bozize allegedly had his opponents jailed and tortured for years. A alliance of rebel groups known as Seleka captured Bossembele and freed all prisoners as they moved against Bozize in March 2013. Al Jazeera gained access to the prison in April 2013.
Outdated offence used to arrest Zambian activist
An activist has been arrested in Zambia for "inciting the public to take part in indecent activities" authorities have said. This offence was adopted in Zambia in 1898 via England's Vagrancy Act of 1824. Activist Paul Kasonkomona was arrested immediately after appearing on a live television show on Sunday 7 April. In the show he outlined measures to combat HIV, which he argued included the decriminalisation of same-sex acts.
The submission deals with three broad issues: alignment between the Strategic Plan and the budget; creating safer prisons, and rehabilitation and reintegration.
Conditions improve at Maputo Central Prison
Maputo Central Prison (Cadeia Central de Maputo) is the largest prison in Mozambique. It is notoriously overcrowded and conditions have in the recent past been noted to be less than ideal. During a visit to the prison on 12 February 2013 by the Human Rights League (Liga dos Direitos Humanos) and CSPRI, it was apparent that although the prison still houses more than the number for which it was designed, recent improvements have ameliorated the situation.
Condições de vida melhoram na Cadeia Central de Maputo
A Cadeia Central de Maputo é a maior prisão em Moçambique. Està superlotada e as condicoes de vida que se observavam num passado recente nao eram as ideais. Durante uma visita à prisão a 12 de Fevereiro de 2013 feita pela Liga dos Direitos Humanos e a Organização da Sociedade Civil sobre a Iniciativa de Reformas Prisionais (Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative, CSPRI), foi evidente que, embora a prisão ainda abriga mais do que o número para o qual foi concebida, os recentes avanços têm melhorado a situação.
Man dragged 400m by South African Police vehicle dies in detention
The man, a 27-year-old Mozambican taxi driver identified as Mido Macia, in detention of head injuries and internal bleeding, according to an initial post mortem report. The incident was captured on video by bystanders. The video shows the man scuffling with police, who subdue him. He is then bound to the back of the pick-up by his arms before the vehicle drives off in front of scores of witnesses in the east Johannesburg area of Daveyton. Nine policemen have been arrested and charged with murder.
Journalist detained by security agents in Mali
The African Press Organization (APO) reports that state security agents in Mali detained an editor on 7 March 2013 in connection with his newspaper’s publication of an open letter criticizing a financial package awarded to a former coup leader.
The aim of the second set of workshops was to receive feedback from designated expert reviewers, who reviewed completed DIPs. The DIPS has been completed by A5I staff. Participants met on 5-6 February 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa and 20-21 February 2013 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Amnesty report cites abuse of criminal justice in Cameroon
A new report by Amnesty claims the Cameroon authorities have engaged in unlawful killings and torture as the authorities seek to use the criminal justice system to clamp down on political opponents, human rights defenders, journalists and sexual minorities.
The recent deaths of prisoners at Groenpunt and St Alban’s prisons raise serious concerns about the ability of the Department of Correctional Services to guarantee the safety of prisoners. The Groenpunt death is particularly worrying as officials are implicated in the death of the prisoner.
SA Constitutional Court finds government liable for prisoner contracting TB in pre-trial detention
Mr Lee was detained at Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison in pre-trial detention from 1999 to 2004, appearing in court no fewer than 70 times. Mr Lee contracted TB while in prison. The court found there is a legal duty on the responsible authorities to provide adequate health care services as part of the constitutional right of all prisoners to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity. The court further found there is a probable chain of causation between the negligent omissions by the responsible authorities and Mr Lee’s infection with TB. The case was remitted to the High Court to determine the amount of damages.
SA Constitutional Court finds government liable for prisoner contracting TB in pre-trial detention
Mr Lee, was detained at Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison in pre-trial detention from 1999 to 2004, appearing in court no fewer than 70 times. Mr Lee contracted TB while in prison. The court found there is a legal duty on the responsible authorities to provide adequate health care services as part of the constitutional right of all prisoners to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity. The court further found there is a probable chain of causation between the negligent omissions by the responsible authorities and Mr Lee’s infection with TB. The case was remitted to the High Court to determine the amount of damages.
National Commission on Human Rights submits worrying report on prisons to Rwandan Parliament.
The report, a collaboration between Amnesty International and the Mozambique Human Rights League, describes how people from poor social groups are particularly at risk of being locked up for months, sometimes years, in overcrowded cells without having committed a crime.
On 12 October 2012, CSPRI made a submission to the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha and a breakdown in relations between the community and the police in Khayelitsha. This Commission was set up by the Western Cape Premier in August 2012, following allegations from civil society that there was systemic failure by the SAPS in Khayelitsha to prevent, combat and investigate crime, take statements, open cases and apprehend criminals, resulting in a breakdown in relations between the community and the police.
