The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) issued statement on inspection visits of 8 prisons, 2 jails, 7 labour camps and 10 police cells from January to May 2022 in order to ensure that persons imprisoned, detained or confined are treated humanely and under international and national human rights laws, according to Section 43 of the MNHRC law.
Statement
Statement of the MNHRC on the Inspection Visits of Prisons, Jails, Detention Centres and Police Cells from January to May 2022
Statement No 3/2022
1. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) is carrying out its human rights promotion and protection activities in accordance with the duties and powers of the Commission prescribed in Chapter V of its enabling law.
2. In doing so, the MNHRC has planned a schedule for visiting, constantly monitoring and inspecting prisons, jails, detention centres, police cells, judicial cells, and hospital guard-wards in line with Section 43 of the MNHRC law, in order to ensure that persons imprisoned, detained or confined are treated humanely and under international and national human rights laws.
3. While visiting the prison, jail, detention centre and cells, the inspection team of MNHRC carried out inspections in line with the Covid-19 pandemic protective instructions by the Ministry of Health.
4. From January to May 2022, the MNHRC teams inspected 8 prisons, 2 jails, 7 labour camps and 10 police cells as follows:
Sr. Prison/Jail Labour Camp Police Cell
1. Kengtung Kyauk Phyu Taung Kengtung Myoma
2. Myeik Sin Phyu Shin Tachileik Myoma
3. Nay Pyi Taw Jail Kin-Thar (1) Myeik Myoma
4. Maubin Kin-Thar (2) Lashio Myoma
5. Hinthada Taung Lay Lone Lashio station
6. Lashio Hti-Kham Myitkyina Myoma
7. Myitkyina Ban-Kan Nyaung-U Myoma
8. Nyaung-U - Bagan station
9. Nyaungshwe - Taunggyi Myoma
10. Taunggyi Jail - Taunggyi station
5. During these visits, the MNHRC inspection team met and interviewed privately 5,348 prisoners and 2,523 detainees in 8 prisons and 2 jails, 1,007 prisoners in 7 labour camps and 419 detainees in 10 police cells. The inspection team also freely inspected every place in the prisons and jails, without any exception including the sleeping quarters of the prisoners, detainees, prison facilities, the availability of personal accessories for each prisoner and detainee, food, and healthcare services, the provision of drinking water.
6. Furthermore, the inspection team met and asked the prisoners, and detainees at their sleeping quarters and worksite to ensure that they are provided with sufficient meals, there is no torture or ill-treatment, and the availability of personal accessories and supplies from their families. The inspection team also privately interviewed the prisoners who wish to meet with the team confidentially.
7. During the inspection, a total of 30 prisoners and detainees including 12 male inmates, 2 female inmates, 13 male detainees and 3 female detainees asked for permission to meet privately with the inspection team and the inspection team privately interviewed them under Sections 43 and 44 of the MNHRC enabling law.
8. The inspection team inspected the prisons, jails and police cells to see if they meet the “United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners”, which was referred to in the procedures on the MNHRC enabling law. The following findings were sent to the respective Union Level institutions:
Sr. Matter Findings and Recommendations
1. matter relating to meals/food 1
2. matter relating to the administration 43
3. matter relating to the health care services 49
4. matter relating to the building 23
5. matter relating to education 1
6. matter relating to cleanliness 5
7. matter relating to drinking water 2
Total 124
9. Out of the 124 recommendations sent, the respective institutions made 99 responses to the Commission while 25 are yet to be responded to. Among the 99 responses, 65 cases (65.66 per cent) were fully implemented and 34 cases (34.34 per cent) were still being processed.
10. The Commission is monitoring the status of implementing the recommendations of MNHRC by the respective institutions and if necessary, the Commission will repeat the recommendations after the next inspection visit.
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
Date: 1 June 2022
- The inspection team of MNHRC inspected 8 prisons, 2 jails, 7 labour camps and 10 police cells from January to May 2022 to see if they meet the “United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners”, which was referred to in the procedures on the MNHRC enabling law.
- The inspection team also freely inspected every place in the prisons and jails, without any exception including the sleeping quarters of the prisoners, detainees, prison facilities, the availability of personal accessories for each prisoner and detainee, food, and healthcare services, the provision of drinking water.
- During the inspection tour, a total of 30 prisoners and detainees including 12 male inmates, 2 female inmates, 13 male detainees and 3 female detainees asked for permission to meet privately with the inspection team and the inspection team privately interviewed them.