Document Type : Article

Author

Assistant Prof., Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

Abstract

Inspection and surveillance of the conditions of detention and imprisonment form an essential part of the system of protection for people deprived of their liberty. With the expansion and stabilization of human rights standards, national monitoring mechanisms emerged in various forms, and the idea of international control and surveillance of detention facilities by international institutions became a reality with the adoption of the optional protocol of the Convention for the Prevention of Torture. This study aims to assess prison surveillance through internal inspections, analyze the effectiveness of independent national preventive mechanisms in various countries, and explore the potential platforms for monitoring Iran's prisons and penal services by examining international mechanisms. Based on the examination of rules, regulations, and existing procedures, inspections of prisons in Iran are conducted exclusively by the governmental authorities through internal inspection and judicial supervision. A significant step toward establishing impartial national monitoring of human rights issues will be the Iranian Parliament's approval of the bill creating the National Human Rights Institution. In light of the Iranian government's critiques of international organizations, the only potential international forum that may inspect Iran's jails and penal services is the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. English

    1. A) Books
    2. APT (2004). Monitoring Places of Detention: a practical guide. Association for the Prevention of Torture, ISBN 2-940337-05-5, Geneva.
    3. Coyle, Andrew and Fair, H. (2018). A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management, Handbook for Prison Staff. third edition. London: University of London.
    4. Murdoch, Jim (2006). The Treatment of prisoners, European Standards. Council of Europe.
    5. ODIHR and APT (2002). Monitoring places of detention: a practical guide for NGOs. OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT).
    6. ODIHR and PRI (2018). Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela. London: PRI.
    7. OHCHR (2007). Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring. Chapter IX: Visits to Persons in Detention. Professional Training Series No. 7, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
    8. OHCHR (2018). Preventing Torture: The Role of National Preventive Mechanisms. A practical Guide. Series No. 21. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Fathi, D. C. (2010). The Challenge of Prison Oversight. American Criminal Law Review. 47 (4) Dated: Fall 2010 Pages: 1453-1462.
    3. Padfield, Nicola (2018). Monitoring prisons in England and Wales: who ensures the fair treatment of prisoners. Crime, Law and Social Change. An Interdisciplinary Journal. Springer.

     

    1. C) Documents
    2. A/HRC/55/CRP.1 (2024), Detailed findings of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
    3. Deitch, M. The need for independent prison oversight in a post-PLRA world. Federal Sentencing Reporter, 24(4), 2012.
    4. HRC (2004). Sharifova and others v. Tajikistan, Communications No. 1209. 1231/2003 and 1241/2004.
    5. HRC (2011). Traoré v. Côte d’Ivoire. Communication No. 1759/2008.
    6. HRC (2022). Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran - Report of the Secretary-General. A/HRC/50/19.
    7. HRC (2023). Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Javaid Rehman. A/HRC/52/67.
    8. Human Rights Council (2023). A/HRC/52/L.5/Rev.1.
    9. SPT visit report to Germany – NPM report (CAT/OP/DEU/2/Add.1).
    10. The Ombudsman Act. Act No. 473 of 12 June 1996 concerning the Ombudsman as amended by Act No. 556 of 24 June 2005 and Act No. 502 of 12 June 2009.
    11. UN General Assembly (2014). A/RES/68/268. Sixty-eighth session. 21 April 2014.
    12. UN General Assembly (2022). A/HRC/51/27. 9 August 2022.
    13. UNODC (2017). Assessing Compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules.

     

    1. D) Websites
    2. https://achpr.au.int/en/mechanisms/committee-prevention-torture-africa
    3. https://achpr.au.int/en/mechanisms/special-rapporteur-prisons-conditions-detention-and-policing-africa
    4. https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-torture
    5. https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council/country-and-other-visits
    6. https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/spt/national-preventive-mechanisms
    7. https://indicators.ohchr.org/
    8. https://news.un.org/en/story/2006/11/201202-annan-calls-human-rights-councilstrive-unity-avoid-familiar-fault-lines (Accessed 15 March 2022).
    9. https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2009/10/ statement-ms-louise-arbour-united-nations-high-commissioner-human-rights-human (Accessed on 15 March 2022)

     

    References In Persian:

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    3. Karbalaee Hasani, M. (2020). Human Treatment of People Deprived of Freedom with Emphasis on Procedure of Human Rights Regulatory Mechanisms, Thesis Submitted for the PhD, University of Tehran.

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Ghiabi, F. & Ranjbarian, A. (2023). The Role and Status of the Special Rapporteurs of The United Nations Human Rights Council. International Law Review. 40(70), Summer 2023. 77-106. DOI: 10.22066/CILAMAG.2023.706168
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    4. Mehrpour, H. (2009). International Mechanisms: How Effective in Preventing Violations of Human Rights?. Foreign Relations. 1(4), 7–42, 2010, [Online]. DOR: 1001.1.20085419.1388.1.4.1.2
    5. Ranjbarian, A., & Karbalaee, M. (2022). The Necessity of Preserving Humanity in the Treatment of Persons Deprived of Liberty: From Theory to Practice. The Public Law Studies Quarterly. Tehran: University of Tehran. (52), 919-942.
      DOI: https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2020.292432.2232
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