HRW warns against COVID-19 outbreaks in UAE jails
Human Rights Watch has warned against reported outbreaks of the novel coronavirus in a number of detention facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), calling on prison authorities to take urgent measures to protect the mental and physical health of prisoners.
According to Press TV, Michael Page, West Asia's Deputy Director at the New York-based organization, on Wednesday said “Crowded, unsanitary prison conditions and widespread denial of adequate medical care are nothing new in the UAE’s notorious detention facilities, but the ongoing pandemic is an additional serious threat to prisoners’ well-being.”
The best way for UAE authorities to allay concerns of prisoners’ family members is to allow inspection by independent, international monitors.”
"HRW emphasized that all the prisons in the Arab country should enable prisoners to engage in social distancing, in accordance with the guidelines set for the general population, without resorting to punitive conditions that resemble solitary confinement.
Prison authorities should further reduce jail populations, ensure that any detainee has safe access to family and legal counsel, put in place appropriate hygiene and cleaning protocols, and provide training and supplies such as masks, sanitizers, and gloves to reduce the risk of further infection, the rights organization said.
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