Strasbourg Conclusions on Prisons and Health

The participants of the joint World Health Organization (WHO)/Council of Europe international expert meeting Prison Health in Europe: Missions, Roles and Responsibilities of International Organizations, held in Strasbourg on 27 May 2014, took as the basis for their conclusions the international rules, standards and guidance relating to the health of prisoners.

Participants wish to draw the attention of all countries in Europe to the need for better health care in prisons for the benefit both of the health of prisoners and the public health of communities at large. They agreed on the following conclusions:

• The high risks of disease in prisons
• Prison population have greater needs for health services
• Prison health is public health
• Prison health is a key to rehabilitation
• States have a special duty for care
• Prisoners have the same rights to health as any other people
• Prison health staff must be professionally independent

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