DPP Launches Report of Belize Central Prison
- News
- 26 Nov 2014
Together with the Bar Association of Belize, the Death Penalty Project today launched a report of the Belize Central Prison. Those present at the launch included the Honourable Kenneth Benjamin, Chief Justice of Belize and Justices of the Supreme Court, British High Commissioner Peter Hughes OBE as well as members of the legal profession and prison administration, amongst others.
“Behind the Prison Gates” provides a detailed account of the findings of a visit to the Belize Central Prison by Joseph Middleton, a leading human rights lawyer in the UK. The visit and the report was commissioned by the Death Penalty Project in order to identify general issues of concern in Belize Central Prison, with a particular focus on those still facing the death penalty, mentally ill prisoners, young offenders, and those serving life sentences. The report also contains recommendations formulated at a one day roundtable discussion held in Belize City in July 2014.
Parvais Jabbar, co-executive director of The Death Penalty Project said:
“We hope the recommendations for change and better practice will act as an indispensable starting point for all key stakeholders in Belize, who now need to take urgent action to address fundamental human rights concerns within the Belize criminal justice system, and to improve the standards of treatment for vulnerable prisoners. We understand that a number of the recommendations are already being initiated and this of itself, is a positive move in the right direction.”
Read the full report
Download the full report
Watch Joesph Middleton speaking at the launch
Related media articles:
Behind the Prison Gates
A Report on Status of Prisoners Inside Kolbe
Human Rights Group Goes Behind the Prison Walls
New Report Prompts Change to Criminal Justice System
Media articles on the one-day roundtable meeting in Belize City in July 2014:
Behind the Prison Gates, 18 July 2014
Report on Belize Central Prison brings forefront troubling questions of human and constitutional rights violations
Death Penalty Project audits Belize Central Prison
