Monitoring health in places of detention (2021)
An overview for health professionals
“Monitoring places of detention by an independent monitoring body is known to be one of the most effective ways to prevent torture and ill-treatment. Monitoring health is an essential component of this”
This DIGNITY manual provides an overview of all prison health aspects that are relevant when monitoring health in places of detention. It is primarily aimed at health professionals conducting monitoring visits as part of an independent monitoring body.
Monitoring health includes assessing prisoners’ health, the health care services available to them and the conditions and treatments in the place of detention that have a direct or indirect impact on their health. The manual discusses the preventive monitoring approach, the monitoring cycle and includes 33 chapters in which individual prison health aspects are being presented and discussed, taking a base in prevailing international human rights standards and the relevance to preventive monitoring.
