Committee: World Health Organization

Topic: The issue of healthcare in prison systems

Country: Algeria
School: Ryan International School Bannerghatta Bangalore

What is health? According to WHO health is the “State of complete physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.” Fundamentally, Article 12 of the
international covenant on economic, social, and cultural rights establishes “The right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”.
WHO is charged with the protection and upholding of global health, and the issue of
healthcare in the prison system requires crucial action, as this has been growing in severity
and magnitude. The protections provided to prisoners under WHO standards are not
implemented in totality and sometimes they are denied care due to their prisoner status.
Prisons around the world struggle to contain the rapidly growing prisoner population and the
rise of communicable diseases. Prisoners are at greater than usual risk of contracting
communicable diseases due to the prison environment. The poor treatment of prisoners is
because imprisonment is often treated as a punishment and deterrent for others. It is
implemented to ensure public safety from serious crimes and to ensure law and order. The
nature of imprisonment deprives individuals of autonomy and freedom, leading to many
healthcare consequences especially mental and phycological. Prison staff is at the forefront
of human rights protections, sometimes they only violate that due to inadequate training or
poor compensation.
The government of Algeria respects human life and puts health as a priority for all
individuals. The prison system is operated as a separate function of the Ministry of Justice.
As of September 2021, Algeria had a Total prisoner population of 94,749 individuals and an
average overcrowding rate of 19 percent overcrowding. Persons convicted of lesser crimes
are sent to provincial civil prisons. Those found guilty of more serious crimes, which carry a
potential death sentence, serve time in penitentiaries. A local doctor under contract visits each
prison regularly to treat sick prisoners. Seriously ill prisoners are sent to local hospitals.
Inmates of civil prisons can receive visits from their families once a week.
The government of Algeria is committed to improving the mental and phycological health of
prisoners through special educational and vocational training programs. This enables them to
start a better and crime-free life post their release from prison. Special facilities have been
opened for female prisoners accompanying infants and kids, to help the mother to embrace
her child in appropriate conditions despite the deprivation of her freedom.
The government of Algeria allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and
local human rights observers to visit prisons and detention centers. The ICRC hosted training
sessions on human rights standards related to arrest, detention, and interrogation procedures
for judicial police from the DGSN and National Gendarmerie, as well as for judges.
In the year 2021, the Ministry of Justice opened two new prisons, bringing the total number
of prisons to 51, and the new prisons provided better detention conditions in line with
international standards. The Ministry of Justice reported the government included prisoners in
their nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and that the ministry, in coordination
with the Ministry of Health, trained prison medical staff in COVID-19 vaccination and
treatment, electrocardiogram use, and emergency first response.
The government of Algeria further plans to
 reduce the overcrowding in prisons by assigning prisoners convicted of non-serious
crimes to provide social services.
 Educating prisoners on health and hygiene to overcome communicable diseases.
 Provide more counseling and make them better human beings.
 Increasing visiting frequency of relatives of prisoners to keep them connected to the
outside world.
 Creating more structures for sports and recreational activities in prisons.
 Vocational training as per individual’s education and background to enable them to
start a new life after they complete their sentences.

The government of Algeria looks forward to the international community providing us

support in achieving our goals and making this world a healthier and better place to live.

References:
1. <https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/algeria/>
2. Directorate General of Prison Management and Reintegration | Prison Administration
(mjustice.dz)