A/HRC/28/29 Overcrowding increases vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. Many detainees in overcrowded places of detention have no access to clean needles, condoms, testing or treatment. 37. Some delegations suggested that overcrowding and overuse of custodial measures is a political problem rather than a legal issue. Some policies, such as those that sought to impose custodial sentences for certain crimes, were inadequate to prevent crime and only contributed to overcrowding. The lack of political will to address the issue of overcrowding was an issue worldwide. Mr. Coriolano identified various factors contributing to overcrowding, including non-compliance with international standards, the lack of human rights-based plans to reduce overcrowding, and the need for more resources to implement those plans. 38. Ms. Barzanò stated that it was crucial to treat prison overcrowding as a symptom rather than a problem to be solved on its own. There was a need to address the causes of incarceration, which went well beyond prison administration. Several delegations suggested that overcrowding should be addressed by social measures aimed at diversion from the criminal justice system. Crime prevention and alternatives to detention, such as community work or mediation, could also help to reduce the prison population and were especially appropriate for petty offences. Building more prisons was not a solution to overcrowding: a preventive approach, based on principles of necessity and proportionality, was rather needed to reduce detention. 39. Examples of the efforts made to reduce over-incarceration and overcrowding were provided by a number of delegations. They included offering alternatives to detention for non-violent offenders (for example, electronic bracelets or community service), release after two thirds of the sentence had been served, and providing training to specialized judges. Measures to promote reintegration into society, such as opportunities for professional training or attending prison colleges, and facilitating interaction with family and friends were also highlighted. 40. It was suggested that the Human Rights Council could elaborate guidelines for States on the reduction of overcrowding. The representative of ICRC informed the Council that it had drafted a handbook on strategies for the reduction of prison populations in cooperation with UNODC. ICRC also stressed the need for a common conceptual framework on the issue and holistic and practical guidance to prevent and alleviate the humanitarian consequences of overcrowding. D. Specific groups deprived of their liberty 41. During the discussions, participants also addressed the human rights of specific groups deprived of their liberty. In particular, they drew the attention of the Human Rights Council to the needs and particular vulnerability in detention of women, children (including migrant children), persons with HIV/AIDS, and persons on death row. More generally, it was agreed that minorities in detention are at greater risk of human rights violations and face additional challenges in detention, given that the system has not been designed for them. 42. Ms. Barzanò informed the Human Rights Council that, in the context of the revision of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the question of how to address particular groups in detention in the Rules was the object of important discussions. For example, children fall outside their ambit given that a set of standards dealing specifically with their needs already exists, and no consensus had yet been reached on how to include certain aspects of the Bangkok Rules in the Standard Minimum Rules. Whether 10