Ivan Zinger

Human Rights Compliance and the Role of External Prison Oversight

Correctional authorities around the world are under increasing legislative and societal pressure to introduce more austere (‘‘no-frills’’) prison regimes, impose new restrictions on prisoners, and tighten security requirements. Even traditionally liberal and open European regimes have taken measures in recent years to introduce a more Spartan and, in some instances, more punitive prison regime in response to the prevailing law-and-order agenda. The war on terrorism has also provided ‘‘legitimacy’’ for some countries to further oppress their prisoner populations – not only convicted and alleged terrorists have been affected but, in some instances, the entire prison population. In this societal context, those responsible for administering prisons are now faced with an ever more difficult task in ensuring legal standards of humane detention. Guaranteeing the human rights of prisoners will continue to be an important challenge for many countries, including advanced democracies such as Canada.