Breaking News: Tackling the Overcrowding Issues in Prisons that Result in Severe Health Crisis - The Need for Reform is Urgent
Strong ideas took place during today's conference in UNHRC, the delegates from countries like Argentina and India discussed various consequences of overcrowding in prisons and the health issues caused by harsh conditions of prison life. The prison population globally has grown over 11 million people in the last ten years, raising concerns about prison reforms and human rights violations.
The United Nations, as a whole, has long prioritized prisoner rights, and with the UNHRC playing a vital role, especially during conflicts, like the rapid decline in the health of the prisoners in overcrowded prisons. However, after the global pandemic-COVID, funding and staffing shortages have led to severe authoritarian approaches for prison management. With that, the overcrowding and the health problems that came with it started. In prisons dealing with overcrowding, inmates often have to wait months to receive any sorts of medical attention. By the time they can access the necessary treatment, their treatable conditions worsen and fuel the spread of common infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C.
The mental health of the prisoners has also become a huge issue as according to the Who 64% of prisoners that live in overcrowded prisons worldwide suffer with mental health issues, with the most common illnesses being anxiety, depression, and PTSD with unstable mental health care leading to much higher risks of self-harm and suicide. Violence among inmates increases with the inaccessibility to healthcare, making overcrowding a threat to both safety and recovery chances of prisoners.
Maria Sagioglou, the delegation of Argentina, defended the need for Prison Reforms, by highlighting the importance of Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3 states that all people have a right to life, liberty, and security of person. She then stated that “We, since 2008 are a liberal Nation and when it comes to the health crisis we are dealing with in our prisons, we have full support for Prison Reforms and encourage all Nations to be in favor due to human rights concerns”.
After some fruitful debating and long hours of decision making among representatives of various countries, the decision has given in favor for passing a bill regarding the degradation of overcrowding in prisons by solutions including alternatives to incarceration, sending inmates with severe mental health issues to mental asylums and a clear focus on mental health rather than punishments.