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Up front, it is important to acknowledge that many prisons in Latin America face very challenging problems such as overcrowding, a high risk of prevalence and transmission of serious diseases and lack of the basic needs such as food or water.
For those main reasons, there is a higher risk of spreading the COVID-19 inside prisons. As an example, you can check this report about Venezuela’s prison conditions: https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/coronavirus-health-prisons-venezuela/
The extremely inhuman conditions in which prisoners live, the fear on the impact that the entry of #COVID19 may have, and the lack of measures taken by Prison Services in Latin America have triggered several social incidents.
So far, escapes and riots in different countries like Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela have occurred. https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/coronavirus-latin-america-prisons/
Although, what type of measures are taken by the Prison Services? In most cases, Latin American countries, like many other countries in the world, have suspended or restricted family visits. This is the case of #Brazil, #Honduras, #Mexico, #Paraguay, #Uruguay and more. https://twitter.com/reinserta/status/1240334101623734279
As a compensation measure, countries like Argentina have extended communications and allowed videoconferences. Still, according to the available information, it does not seem to be a common measure in most prisons in other countries... https://www.pagina12.com.ar/255941-videollamadas-para-descomprimir-las-carceles
Furthermore, we must remember that many prisoners in Latin America depend on the goods that their families are able to provide. Therefore, the extension of digital communications would not be enough, and the entry of basic goods must be guaranteed.
On the other hand, some countries like #Paraguay and #Colombia compensate their restrictions by allowing prisoners to participate in other sports and cultural activities. https://www.lanacion.com.py/pais/2020/03/17/suspenden-visitas-a-carceles-por-riesgo-de-coronavirus/
Additionally, several countries have taken measures to decongest prisons. In #Argentina, 800 vulnerable prisoners have been released or house arrested. #Chile, for instance, is considering to approve the commutative pardon for 1,300 convicts. https://www.lanacion.com.ar/seguridad/coronavirus-beneficiaro-800-presos-arrestos-domiciliarios-nid2350172
#Colombia is also considering house arrest for 8,000 to 10,000 prisoners convicted for minor offences. In #Honduras, inmates with early release measures can stay home, and 1,700 prisoners have been released in #Nicaragua. https://www.icrc.org/es/document/nicaragua-1700-personas-privadas-de-libertad-regresan-en-sus-hogares?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&linkId=100000011668135
As in many other countries in the world, there is still much to do. Some recommendations in the region have been made by the @CIDH, the Inter-American Comission on Human Rights. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/066.asp https://twitter.com/CIDH/status/1248351055789928452
Finally, other measures from a gender perspective have been recommended by @WOLA_org. https://www.wola.org/analysis/covid-19-a-potential-death-sentence-for-women-behind-bars-in-latin-america/
Check our website to know more and, please, do not hesitate to contact us if you have more information. https://covid19prisons.wordpress.com/measures/
(Photo 1: by Meridith Kohut)
(Photo 1: by Meridith Kohut)
