Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    SCZONE signs $52.6m textile industry deals during China investment tour    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



NCHR discovers violations during visit to Damanhour prison
Sunday's visit came as part of the council's mission to follow-up on detention facilities and the conditions of detainees
Published in Daily News Egypt on 24 - 08 - 2015

Overcrowded rooms, medical negligence, and inadequate meals were among the violations observed by the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) delegation during its visit to the Damanhour women prison in the Beheira governorate on Sunday.
The Sunday visit came as part of the council's mission to follow-up on detention facilities and the conditions of detainees in punishment facilities.
According to the NCHR's statement, released Monday, the delegation was welcomed by senior officials from the Interior Ministry's Human Rights and Prisons department, whereby the delegation communicated its objectives for the visit.
The delegation inspected the prison wards, the incubators ward, the prison's hospital, as well as the cafeteria, library, handicrafts exhibition and exercising areas.
Based on its meeting with several prisoners, the delegation noted their recognition of good treatment from the prison administration, and the provision of resources necessary for children such as food and medicine, and nearby places for childcare. The prisoners also acknowledged the measures taken by the prison to ease the effects of the recent heat wave that occurred in the past few weeks.
However, some violations were documented by the delegation. There were a number of cases in which inmates required medical treatment, but it could not be provided in the prison's hospital. Furthermore, there was a complaint regarding the lack of lawyers available for prisoners who could not afford to hire a lawyer themselves.
The NCHR called on prison authorities to provide meals in accordance with prison regulations, to resolve the problem of overcrowding in prison wards, and to address the issue of the lack of lawyers available to prisoners.
The Ministry of Interior has acknowledged over-crowded conditions in prisons and police stations, and opened a new prison in May to reduce overcrowding inside security directorates and police stations.
The Interior Minister had agreed last week to an inspection visit by the NCHR to Damanhour and Abu Za'bal prisons on 23 and 24 August.
The NCHR members are required to obtain approval from the Ministry of Interior prior to a visit. This has been a source of complaint by members of the organization, as they believe it allows prison authorities the time to "settle everything" before the visit takes place.
As the only organisation with access to Egypt's prisons, the semi-official NCHR has already conducted several visits to evaluate the conditions of prisons, such as Abu Za'bal, Tora, Qanater, Al-Aqrab, Tanta, Al-Marg and Wadi El-Natrun prisons since 2013.
There have been a series of legal cases against the Ministry of Interior, as several policemen and security officers have been referred to trial in cases of prisoners' deaths inside detention facilities, especially police stations.
Meanwhile, the state repeatedly denied any torture claims, often referring to "some violations" and "individual mistakes", as opposed to "systematic torture". The NCHR clearly stated there was no systematic torture on a wide scale, and abstained from using the word.


Clic here to read the story from its source.