Monitoring human rights in prisons during the Covid-19 pandemic

The National Preventive Mechanism—21 independent bodies which have powers to visit and report on all places of detention across the UK—has published its annual report focusing on the impact of Covid-19, and the measures which were introduced to limit its spread. It reveals that restrictions have had an impact on prisoners’ mental health, including a rise in mental health referrals and a sharp increase in self-harm by women. It also confirms that isolating prisoners were “being kept in conditions that meet the widely accepted definition of solitary confinement” prohibited under the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Click here to read the full report.