CHRI MAKES A VIDEO INTERVENTION IN THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION AT THE 45th REGULAR SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Geneva

CHRI delivered a video oral statement in the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (Agenda Item 3) at the 45th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council. CHRI was amongst the ten civil society organisations that intervened during the interactive dialogue, following the presentation by Chair-Rapporteur, Ms. Leigh Toomey, who presented the Working Group's report outlining its work and addressing three thematic issues: (a) women deprived of liberty; (b) the right to legal assistance in preventing arbitrary deprivation of liberty; (c) modern technologies and alternatives to detention. She also spoke at length about the adoption of Working Group's Deliberation No. 11 on prevention of arbitrary deprivation of liberty in the context of public health emergencies. 

The statement, delivered by Ms. Aditi Patil, underlined the obligation of States to introduce a comprehensive legal aid system and urged them to prioritise quality legal representation from the moment that a person's liberty is restricted. CHRI drew attention to the increase of 53 per cent in the number of women prisoners globally over the last two decades and called on States to consider non-custodial measures for women offenders in accordance with the Bangkok Rules. It also called on States to constitute specialised mechanisms for periodic review of all cases of persons in detention as a check against arbitrary and prolonged detention. 

The statement echoed the Working Group's recommendations to States on addressing the issue of arbitrary deprivation of liberty in the context of public health emergencies, including by strictly adhering to the principles of necessity and proportionality; refraining from using emergency measures to target specific groups; and reducing overcrowding in prisons, among others.