Summary

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, focuses on the issue of deaths in prisons in order to raise awareness about an invisible, albeit largely preventable, tragedy of global dimensions, often resulting from a failure in the duty of States to respect and protect the fundamental right to life of those deprived of liberty. While the report focuses on deaths in custody of persons in the criminal justice context from the moment of their arrest, including pretrial and post-conviction, its conclusions and recommendations also apply to custodial deaths in other contexts. The Special Rapporteur also presents practical recommendations based on best practices described in the report and international standards for the effective investigation and prevention of all deaths in custody.