Project dates: 1 November 2014 onwards
Target prisons: Abengourou, Abidjan, Adzopé, Agboville, Bouaké, Daloa, Grand Bassam, Sassandra, Soubré, Toumodi.
Prison statistics in March 2016:
As of 31 March 2016, according to statistics made available by the Directorate of Penitentiary Affairs the occupancy rate of prisons in Côte d'Ivoire was 151% (10,573 detainees for a capacity of 6,989). At the same date, detainees awaiting trial represented approximately 44% of the prison population, i.e. 4,699 remand prisoners throughout the country.
In the 10 prisons targeted by the action, the rate of pre-trial detention reached 51%, or 3,235 remand prisoners.
Details of the situation by prison :
Abengourou:
- As of 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 222% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 41% of the prison population.
Abidjan :
- As at 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 120% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 55% of the prison population
Adzopé :
- As of 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 201% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 41% of the prison population.
Agboville :
- As of 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 98% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 44% of the prison population.
Bouaké :
- As of 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 285% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 30% of the prison population.
Daloa :
- As of 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 219% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 60% of the prison population.
Grand-Bassam :
- As at 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 58% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 38% of the prison population.
Sassandra :
- As of 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 662% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 40% of the prison population.
Soubré :
- As at 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 260% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 52% of the prison population.
Toumodi :
- As at 31/03/2016: the prison had an occupancy rate of 193% and prisoners awaiting trial represented 39% of the prison population.
Results in 2021:
Since 31 March 2016, 1 260 cases of undue pre-trial detention have been identified and 449 court decisions have been made. 571 detainees have had their cases fixed before a court, i.e. 45% of the total, and 240 detainees are still awaiting a court decision, i.e. 19% of the total.
Thus, 81% of detainees who are victims of abusive preventive detention have had their cases dealt with by the courts.
In addition :
- 126 representatives of prison staff, judicial staff, referent lawyers and civil society activists were trained on the rights of detainees, the application of the code of criminal procedure and the respect of judicial guarantees during 8 seminars;
- 44 activists are mobilised daily in the monitoring of prisons;
- 3,000 copies of the Guide on judicial guarantees for detainees were distributed to the 34 prisons in Côte d'Ivoire;
- 1 ministerial communiqué authorising the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT) was adopted;
- 288 visits to target prisons were organised;
- 2 joint studies between the University of Grenoble Alpes (CERDAP2 ), civil society (FIACAT and ACAT Côte d'Ivoire) were carried out: one on abusive preventive detention, another on the condition of women and minors in detention;
- At least 5 members of ACAT Côte d'Ivoire visited international and regional mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights to submit alternative reports and to ensure international and regional advocacy on prison issues;
- 34 radio or TV programmes were broadcast on the subject of torture, the rights of detainees and the presumption of innocence, particularly in the national language, and 59 press cuttings reported on the problem;
- 9 citizens' days to raise awareness of the fight against torture were organised;
- 72 cases are still being investigated by the investigating offices of the courts of first instance and court sections.
Prison Insider talks to Wenceslas Assohou, President of ACAT Côte d'Ivoire in 2022, about the beginnings of his experience as a volunteer prison visitor:
This project has received financial support from the European Union Delegation in Côte d'Ivoire, the Agence française de développement, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Tavola-Valdese, the Paris Bar Association, the Fondation de France and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Thanks to the ACAT sisters of the federation who have provided financial support for this project.