
Summary
International human rights and humanitarian law stipulate that prisoners have the right to be treated humanely and especially receive adequate medical treatment. However, so called “natural” deaths in custody are frequent and often considered “natural” because (1) there are no external signs of violence; (2) there are other health related reasons that seem obvious; and (3) time, guidelines and material is lacking to advise health care workers or international personnel on the spot how to proceed in such cases. The different partners involved in this research examined the conditions under which deaths in custody should be investigated and prevented. It resulted in the elaboration of practice guidelines which will prepare humanitarian workers for investigations of deaths in custody worldwide.
Project Keywords
- Deaths in custody
- Ethics
- Forensic sciences
- Human rights
- International health
- International humanitarian law
- Prisoners
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Disciplines
- Ethics
- Health / Medicine
- Human rights
- Law
Relevant Countries
- All countries
Status
Project Outputs
- Working paper: Death in custody
- Guidelines for investigating deaths in custody
- Mort en détention: vers un cadre international d’investigation et de prévention
- Investigating deaths in custody: The need for guidelines
- Abstract
- Executive Summary
- ICRC Guidelines for Investigating Deaths in Custody
- Understanding Death in Custody: A Case for a Comprehensive Definition
- The investigation of deaths in custody
Contact the project team
Research team
Bernice Elger
Coordinator
University of Geneva
Vincent Chetail
Principal Member
Graduate Institute Geneva
Andrew Coyle
Principal Member
University of London
Paola Gaeta
Principal Member
University of Geneva
Patrice Mangin
Principal Member
Adam Stapleton
Principal Member
Northwestern University
Michael Thali
Principal Member
University of Berne
Morris Tidball Binz
Principal Member
International Committee of the Red Cross
Isabel Hight
Associated Member
International Committee of the Red Cross
Isabel Menegon
Associated Member