Civil Society Prison Reform
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The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative, is a research and advocacy project focussing on prisons and places of confinement in the African region, with the aim of furthering constitutional and human rights imperatives within these settings.
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Browsing by Subject "Africa"
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Item Survey of detention visiting mechanisms in Africa(Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, 2013) Ackermann, MarilizeMechanisms of detention oversight may refer to any number of activities or approaches which would result in the institution of detention being held accountable to the overseeing body. Such actions may include public reporting, the referral of cases for criminal investigation and prosecution, reporting by prison authorities to external bodies, dialogue between relevant authorities, the resolution of individual complaints and/or monitoring of conditions in prisons through on-site visits. Visits to places of detention by independent persons or bodies are regarded as a form of oversight which includes a wide range of activities and initiatives aimed at monitoring the executive. Ultimately, states need to examine critically the use of detention and imprisonment in the African context, for imprisonment is costly, not only at a monetary level, but also at a socio-economic level where unnecessary and excessive imprisonment can have lasting negative consequences for individuals, families and communities that extend well beyond the prison walls.Item Women in detention in Africa: A review of the literature(Routledge, 2016) Ackermann, MarilizeWomen in prison in Africa experience compounded discrimination due to gender and poverty. Structural inequality results in women being poorly educated, having reduced access to economic resources and legal processes. Women often remain in pre-trial detention since they are unable to afford bail or fines. A significant number of women in prison are mothers and often, the sole or primary caregiver of children prior to detention. The true impact of female detention is felt by children who are imprisoned with their mothers, or who remain alone on the outside. In addition to the profound social and economic impact on families, women in prison are affected by a number of gender-related issues, including reproductive health needs, mental health disorders connected to prior experiences of violence, abuse and substance abuse, and heightened vulnerability to sexual abuse and harassment in detention. The literature review looks at the reasons for female imprisonment in a number of African countries, and explores the unique needs of women in detention, against the backdrop of the international detention framework, and particularly, the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules).