Human Rights in PrisonHuman Rights in Prison
IPRT believes in the principle of ‘imprisonment as punishment’: that it is the sentence of deprivation of liberty in itself that is the core punitive sanction. IPRT’s position is that conditions and treatment while in prison should not be used as additional punishment.
Accordingly, we believe that while restrictions on the freedom of movement are necessarily introduced while in prison, prisoners should retain all other rights to the greatest possible degree while serving their sentences.
In particular, IPRT believes that prisoners have the right to be treated with dignity and respect for their rights; they have the right to safety and security of the person, the right to be treated humanely and be free from torture, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment.
In our work, the IPRT is committed to ensuring that the rights of prisoners are respected and that the Irish penal policy is based on the implementation of international human rights standards.
Irish Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2009
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) today launched their annual report. IPRT welcomed the calls from the Dr Maurice Manning, president of the IHRC, for the Government to commit to improving the situation in Irish Prisons. Read more
Committee for the Prevention of Torture: 2006 Visit
A resource on the Committee's 2006 visit including IPRT submission. Read more
Ireland: First National Report under the UN CAT.
The Government has just submitted its long-awaited First National Report under the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UN CAT). Read more
Irish Times: European prison crowding ruling could lead to similar case here
The European Court of Human Rights rules that prison overcrowding in itself can violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to freedom from torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.) Read more
IPRT Position Paper 4: Human Rights in Prison 
A position paper outlining IPRT's core principle that human rights must be respected within the penal system. Read more
Standards for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland
A set of standards, published by the Inspector of Prisons, against which the assessment of prison conditions in Ireland will be measured. IPRT welcomes the inclusion of international human rights standards, and the recognition that they constitute a benchmark... Read more
Joint ICCPR submission to the UN Human Rights Committee: 1-year update
In August 2009, IPRT, FLAC and ICCL made a joint submission to the UN Human Rights Committee as a 1-year update on the Concluding Observations of the Committee following their visit in 2008. Read more
ECHR and Irish Law: Prisoners' Rights
IPRT Executive Director, Liam Herrick, focuses on Prisoners' Rights in Ireland, 'ECHR and Irish Law' - an authoritative account of the incorporation of the ECHR and its impact on Irish law in practice, ed. Dr Ursula Kilkelly. Read more
Human Rights in Irish Prisons
An article published in the Judicial studies Institute Journal in 2008 by Claire Hamilton (former Chair of IPRT) and Dr Ursula Kilkelly (current Chair of IPRT). Read more
ICCPR Shadow Report
The Shadow Report to the Third Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is the product of a year’s research and consultation with the Irish NGO community by FLAC, ICCL and IPRT, endorsed by 15 other Irish NGOs. Read more