In the current public health crisis, persons deprived of liberty are exposed to greater health risks. The present situation exacerbates existing situations of vulnerabilities of a population already disproportionately suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, or immunodeficiency. A pandemic situation such as this one force monitoring bodies to think differently in order to continue fulfilling their mandate in alternative ways while respecting the principle of Do no harm.
This week, the APT returns with the final part of our “detention monitoring and the principle of do no harm” series with Dr. Elena Leclerc, Head of the Healthcare in Detention Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Dr. Elena added a new dimension to the discussion as she succinctly touched upon topics such as how to visit quarantine areas in detention places and how should detaining authorities handle deaths in custody that are caused by COVID-19.
To learn more about the ICRC and their work in monitoring detention places globally, please visit their website.