Obstacles à la surveillance du système pénal en pays andins: l'exemple bolivien

A brief tour of a few penitentiaries in the Andean region of South America brings out the stark contrast between the well-equipped prisons of Canada, the United States, and Europe and the generally run-down facilities to which prisoners in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are subjected. Despite...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Langlois, Denis (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:French
Published: 2006
In: Canadian journal of criminology and criminal justice
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Keywords:
Bolivien
Gefangenenrechte
Menschenrechte
Rechtsstellung
Strafgefangene
Description
Summary:A brief tour of a few penitentiaries in the Andean region of South America brings out the stark contrast between the well-equipped prisons of Canada, the United States, and Europe and the generally run-down facilities to which prisoners in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are subjected. Despite constitutional and legislative provisions in line with international law, prisoners in these countries sometimes face inhumane conditions and multiple violations of their most basic human rights. In such a context, opportunities for any real monitoring of the correctional system come up against major structural shortcomings. That being said, the work of public institutions such as the Defensor del Pueblo (Ombudsman) helps to mitigate the ongoing arbitrariness of penitentiary administration. In addition, the fact that there are constitutional tribunals and that agencies such as the Defensor del Pueblo and NGOs can seek help from international prisoners' rights bodies strengthens actual recognition of those rights. The author hopes that the implementation of national action plans will prompt the governments concerned to meet their obligations regarding prisoners' rights. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:1707-7753