On the 29th of last month, an inmate at the Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, shows a phrase written by hand, ‘Please save me’ to reporters. News 1
The Progressive Attorneys’ Association for Democratic Society (Minbyun) and the Catholic Human Rights Committee issued a public inquiry form on the 4th, pinpointing the lack of countermeasures by the Ministry of Justice regarding the outbreak of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in the eastern detention center in Seoul. .
Catholic Human Rights Commission and’Public Inquiry’ on the 4th
In a joint press release on the day, Minbyun and the Catholic Human Rights Commission said, “The Ministry of Justice announced measures against collective infection in correctional facilities only on the 31st, 34 days after the first infection in the eastern detention center in Seoul.” It is just a supplement to the existing measures, and it does not explain what measures to take.”
He also said, “From the beginning of the domestic outbreak of Corona 19, concerns about group infections in correctional facilities have been continuously pointed out,” he said. “However, the Ministry of Justice, which is a competent ministry, did not take any clear measures other than blocking correctional facilities from outside.”
He said, “In order to confirm whether the government is actively taking measures based on international human rights standards such as Mandela rules, we will open inquiries to the Ministry of Justice regarding measures for collective infection in correctional facilities that have occurred and future measures.”
The public inquiries were made in 9 ways ▶Prompt and sufficient information provision and disclosure ▶Provision of essential hygiene products ▶Guarantee access to medical services ▶Isolation problems in facilities ▶Guarantee the right to communicate with the outside ▶Prohibition of punishment such as unfair disciplinary action ▶Suspension of sentence execution Bail and parole, etc. ▶Detainee death case and future recurrence prevention measures ▶Prolonged measures, etc.
In particular, they asked whether there was a fact of investigating and detaining prisoners who requested rescue by sticking out towels and documents through windows, etc., and whether there was a fact of referral to an investigation procedure that presupposes punishment or prosecution.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Justice, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to the eastern detention center as of 0 o’clock on that day was a total of 1090. It is a number that includes family and acquaintances.
Reporter Seok-Hyun Ko [email protected]