Body searches in prison: specific risks for women, LGBTIQA+ persons and family members
While sometimes necessary for security reasons, certain detention practices entail a high risk of discrimination, abuse and ill-treatment, by their nature and the way they are implemented in practice. Body searches are among those risky practices. They can be particularly humiliating and traumatic for women and LGBTIQA+ persons deprived of liberty, especially when they involve nudity and physical contact. Persons visiting their relatives in detention can also be exposed to humiliating and degrading body searches. Taking into account the inherent risk posed by this detention practice, international human rights standards include specific provisions relating to body searches, in particular the 2010 Bangkok Rules and the 2015 Nelson Mandela Rules. The Yogyakarta Principles provide specific protection for LGBTIQA+ persons deprived of liberty in the context of body searches.
This panel will bring together representatives from prison administration, independent monitoring bodies, NGOs and family members to discuss the main challenges and promising practices related to body searches of women and LGBTIQA+ persons deprived of liberty, as well as family members visiting their relatives in prison, with a view to advancing gender-responsive criminal justice systems and prevent ill-treatment. The discussion will draw on country-specific developments and global trends, including from the recent Global Report on Women in Prison developed by the APT jointly with National Preventive Mechanisms from 46 countries.
Programme
Introduction and moderation
- Veronica Filippeschi, Senior Advisor on Vulnerabilities, APT
Panel discussion
- Caroline Cunha Farias, Member of the State Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Christopher Siegersma, Chief Executive Officer, Correction Services Agency, Malta
- Andrea Casamento, President of Prisoners’ Families Association (ACIFAD), Argentina, and General Coordinator of the International Network of Women Relatives of Persons Deprived of Liberty (RIMUF)
Audience
Torture prevention actors, in particular National Preventive Mechanisms established under the OPCAT, National Human Rights Institutions, justice sector actors, public authorities, and civil society organisations
Spanish and Portuguese
Interpretation available: ES / POR / FR
Speakers
-
Veronica Filippeschi
Senior Advisor on Vulnerabilities APT
Event Details
Date
Time 5pm — 6pm CEST
-
Veronica Filippeschi
Type Open
