International Law on Youth Solitary – Stop Solitary for Kids
International Law on Youth Solitary
Solitary Confinement in the Americas during the 147th session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2013); testimony and video.
U.N.’s Committee Against Torture: Concluding observations on the third to fifth periodic reports of United States of America (2014)
Seeing Into Solitary: A Review of the Laws and Policies of Certain Nations Regarding Solitary Confinement of Detainees (2016)
Despite international pressure, the United States is the only United Nations Member State that has not ratified the CRC. A 2014 report by the United Nation’s Committee Against Torture specifically called on the U.S. to “prohibit any use of solitary confinement against juveniles.”In his most updated March 2015 report, Special Rapporteur Méndez describes the continued use of solitary confinement on children in the United States, which he defines as a form of torture.
In December, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the Nelson Mandela Rules, the revised U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, or SMRs. The Mandela Rules “represent a universally accepted minimum standard for the treatment of prisoners, conditions of detention and prison management, and offer essential practical guidance to prison administrations.” For example, the rules provide that solitary confinement “shall be used only in exceptional cases as a last resort for as short a time as possible and subject to independent review.” The revised Rules also reiterate that solitary confinement should be prohibited for children “as referred to in other United Nations standards.” Mandela Rules, Rule 45.
On September 30, 2016, Nils Melzer was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as the next UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. He will take over from Juan Méndez on November 1, 2016. Read a two-part interview with Rapporteur Méndez reflecting on progress made during his six year tenure and his insight about the future of solitary confinement reform: Part 1 and Part 2.
In September, 2016 the U.N. published a report, entitled Seeing Into Solitary: A Review of the Laws and Policies of Certain Nations Regarding Solitary Confinement of Detainees, documenting the state of laws on solitary confinement around the world.
The ACLU has compiled a summary on international law and practice related to youth solitary confinement.
International Law on Youth Solitary – Stop Solitary for Kids
International Law on Youth Solitary
Solitary Confinement in the Americas during the 147th session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2013); testimony and video.
U.N.’s Committee Against Torture: Concluding observations on the third to fifth periodic reports of United States of America (2014)
Seeing Into Solitary: A Review of the Laws and Policies of Certain Nations Regarding Solitary Confinement of Detainees (2016)
Despite international pressure, the United States is the only United Nations Member State that has not ratified the CRC. A 2014 report by the United Nation’s Committee Against Torture specifically called on the U.S. to “prohibit any use of solitary confinement against juveniles.”In his most updated March 2015 report, Special Rapporteur Méndez describes the continued use of solitary confinement on children in the United States, which he defines as a form of torture.
In December, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the Nelson Mandela Rules, the revised U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, or SMRs. The Mandela Rules “represent a universally accepted minimum standard for the treatment of prisoners, con
ditions of detention and prison management, and offer essential practical guidance to prison administrations.” For example, the rules provide that solitary confinement “shall be used only in exceptional cases as a last resort for as short a time as possible and subject to independent review.” The revised Rules also reiterate that solitary confinement should be prohibited for children “as referred to in other United Nations standards.” Mandela Rules, Rule 45.
On September 30, 2016, Nils Melzer was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as the next UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. He will take over from Juan Méndez on November 1, 2016. Read a two-part interview with Rapporteur Méndez reflecting on progress made during his six year tenure and his insight about the future of solitary confinement reform: Part 1 and Part 2.
In September, 2016 the U.N. published a report, entitled Seeing Into Solitary: A Review of the Laws and Policies of Certain Nations Regarding Solitary Confinement of Detainees, documenting the state of laws on solitary confinement around the world.
The ACLU has compiled a summary on international law and practice related to youth solitary confinement.