A/HRC/30/19 Contents Page I. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 II. The impact of overincarceration and overcrowding on human rights .............................................. 4 A. Right to liberty and security..................................................................................................... 5 B. Freedom from torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ................... 7 C. Right to health.......................................................................................................................... 7 D. Right to food, water and sanitation .......................................................................................... 8 E. Right to education and rehabilitation ....................................................................................... 9 F. Freedom of religion or belief ................................................................................................... 10 G. Right to privacy, family life and rights of family members ..................................................... 10 H. Right to equality and non-discrimination................................................................................. 11 The main causes of overincarceration and overcrowding ................................................................ 12 A. Deficiencies within the criminal justice system ....................................................................... 12 B. Excessive recourse to pretrial detention................................................................................... 13 C. Absence and/or improper administration of alternatives to detention ..................................... 14 D. Sentencing policies .................................................................................................................. 14 E. Lack of oversight of places of detention .................................................................................. 15 Addressing overincarceration and overcrowding and their human rights implications .................... 16 A. Need for a proactive and holistic approach.............................................................................. 16 B. Right to challenge detention, assistance by legal counsel and access to legal aid ................... 16 C. Appropriate use of places of detention .................................................................................... 17 D. Pretrial detention as a last resort .............................................................................................. 18 E. Alternatives to custodial measures........................................................................................... 18 F. Proportionate sentencing.......................................................................................................... 19 G. Rehabilitation and reduction of reoffending rates .................................................................... 20 H. Oversight and complaints mechanisms .................................................................................... 20 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 21 III. IV. V. 2