Irish Penal Reform Trust

International News

Prison Insider: Prison Life Index

5th December 2024

IPRT welcomes the launch of a new resource called the Prison Life Index (PLI) - a new composite index that evaluates the respect for the fundamental rights of people in prison across the world. The first version of the Prison Life Index covers 12 countries, including Ireland.

IPRT and RESCALED Welcome Landmark EU Council Conclusions Under Belgian Presidency (EU2024BE)

14th June 2024

On 14 June 2024, IPRT and RESCALED applauded the news that the Ministers for Justice of the 27 EU countries unanimously expressed their support for the use of detention houses.

Council of Europe: 'SPACE I' Annual penal statistics: Prison Populations 2023

7th June 2024

The Council of Europe (CoE) has published 'SPACE I' Annual Penal Statistics on Prison Populations 2023. The report contains a detailed breakdown of penological trends across Europe. 

Prison Insider: Prisons on the margins of European elections

4th June 2024

On 4 June 2024, Prison Insider writes about the stances taken by political groups in the European Parliament regarding enhancing dignity, rights, and conditions for prisoners throughout the European Union.

Belgium ratifies the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT), Ireland now last in EU to ratify

20th May 2024

Belgium has ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). Their National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) was established just 10 days after passing legislation. Ireland is now the only EU country without a law to create a NPM.

The Council of Europe Anti-torture Committee (CPT) 2023 General Report on the protection of transgender persons in prison

25th April 2024

On 25 April 2024, the Council of Europe Anti-torture Committee (CPT) 2023 General Report on the protection of transgender persons in prison

RESCALED European Symposium on Detention Houses

21st March 2024

On 20 and 21 March 2024 RESCALED hosted their European Symposium on Detention Houses in Brussels. IPRT Policy and Research Coordinator and Detention House Ambassador for Ireland, Pamela Drumgoole, attended the event alongside other esteemed Irish company.

Liberties EU Rule of Law Report 2024

18th March 2024

IPRT, alongside eight other Irish organisations, contributed to the Liberties EU Rule Of Law Report 2024. The international report lays out the most striking developments concerning justice, corruption, civic space, media freedom, checks and balances, and systemic human rights issues across 19 states.

Mapping Solitary Confinement project

31st January 2024

IPRT contributed to the Mapping Solitary Confinement project, which seeks to draw a picture of how, when, why and for how long people can be placed in solitary confinement (also known as 'segregation' 'isolation' and 'secure care', amongst other names) in different countries across the world, and what their daily lives look like. The project, published in January 2024, also aims to identify common patterns and issues as well as good practice, and help inform reform efforts.

UK: ‘Together a Chance’ - Evaluation of the Social Worker for Mothers in Prison pilot project

31st January 2024

Together a Chance’ by CASCADE is an evaluation of a three-year pilot scheme that placed social workers in two women’s prisons in England. The pilot project intended to support and advocate for women whose children are involved with children’s social care in the originating local authority.

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