French detention and immigration policies

«Security concerns should not undermine a full respect for human rights norms. Some French policies on detention and immigration risk undermining these standards.» With these words, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, presented today his report on France, identifying problems as regards prison conditions, preventive detention (rétention de sûreté ), juvenile justice and rights of migrants.

While welcoming some improvements since the 2006 report, the Commissioner criticises the «unacceptable living conditions faced by many detainees, who have to cope with overcrowding, lack of privacy, dilapidated facilities and substandard hygiene» adding that «the high level of suicides in French prisons is a symptom of structural deficiencies in the penitentiary system.» Urging the authorities to solve rapidly these problems, he also stressed that «the proposed revision of prison legislation must not ignore respect for prisoners’ fundamental rights, and more effective solutions and financial means should be provided to improve both material conditions and the treatment of people suffering from mental disorders.»

Document: https://wcd.coe.int/