12/12/2012
Society as a whole would be outraged when they viewed the picture of this little elephant being held in this small confined space. Every activist organization would rise up to free him…no matter what the cause, purpose or circumstance.
days….months…years…..without human contact….no fresh air….no sunshine….we somehow think it justified.
Most nations do not agree with us. Not even China.
This week the U. N. Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting is happening in Buenos Aires to revise the Standard Minimum Rules For The Treatment Of Prisoners. The United States still defends the prolonged use of solitary confinement. Here is a quote from the ACLU and a link to the article. (emphasis mine)
“Unfortunately, the U.S. continues to defend the use of long-term solitary confinement. Several governments and NGOs endorsed a 15- or 30-day limit on solitary confinement, as well as an absolute ban on solitary for vulnerable groups like juveniles, pregnant women, and persons with mental illness. The U.S. delegation rejected all of these proposals. To be fair, the U.S. was not the only government resisting meaningful restrictions on solitary confinement, and the U.S. proposal did contain some positive elements, such as a provision that visiting shall not be restricted for prisoners in solitary absent security justifications. But it’s notable that the Chinese government endorsed without hesitation a 15-day limit to the use of solitary confinement.” US at UN Prisoners Rights Meeting
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IS TORTURE and juveniles charged as adults are almost without exception held in solitary confinement in this nation while they await trial. Once sentenced, juveniles are subjected to more solitary confinement in adult prisons for their own protection. Is this how we treat our children?