Detention in pandemic

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, detained persons suffered an increasing number of human rights violations. A World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) report highlighted the abusive practices and legal ways to fight them. People in detention are generally at high risk of infectious diseases. Jails are overcrowded everywhere, hygiene is generally poor, and quarantine is often impossible. Persons with pre-existing medical conditions or pregnancies are especially vulnerable. It thus was no surprise that COVID-19 spread fast in detention facilities. Because of rules meant to contain the disease, infected persons often struggled to get in touch with lawyers and insisted on judicial review. Nonetheless, lawyers did find ways to assist people in jails and improve protection against COVID-19. This article highlights the OMCT report that assessed pandemic-related human rights issues, which were prevalent in many countries, focusing on Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It also discusses the legal and advocacy strategies and promising practices to protect people from COVID-19 in detention effectively, challenge ongoing and pandemic-related human rights violations occurring in detention settings, and seek accountability for abusive law enforcement measures.