Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Human Rights Human Rights Implementation Centre OPEN SOCIETY JUSTICE INITIATIVE Pretrial Detention and Torture: Why Pretrial Detainees Face the Greatest Risk A Global Campaign for Pretrial Justice Report Pretrial Detention and Torture: Why Pretrial Detainees Face the Greatest Risk Pretrial Detention and Torture: Why Pretrial Detainees Face the Greatest Risk Human Rights Implementation Centre Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Human Rights Copyright © 2011 Open Society Foundations. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-1-936133-45-1 Published by Open Society Foundations 400 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 USA www.soros.org For more information contact: Martin Schönteich Senior Legal Officer National Criminal Justice Reform Open Society Justice Initiative
[email protected] Cover designed by Judit Kovács l Createch Ltd. Text layout and printing by Createch Ltd. Cover photo © Brennan Linsley l AP Photo About the Global Campaign for Pretrial Justice Excessive and arbitrary pretrial detention1 is an overlooked form of human rights abuse that affects millions of persons each year, causing and deepening poverty, stunting economic development, spreading disease, and undermining the rule of law. Pretrial detainees may lose their jobs and homes; contract and spread disease; be asked to pay bribes to secure release or better conditions of detention; and suffer physical and psy- chological damage that last long after their detention ends. In view of the magnitude of this worldwide problem, the Open Society Justice Initiative, together with other part- ners, is engaging in a Global Campaign for Pretrial Justice.