As the global population grapples with the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the  Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) reminds Governments in the Asia Pacific and  around the world of their obligations to ensure that prison conditions won’t facilitate the  spread of the disease for the safety of prisoners, staff and visitors.  

It is well documented that prisons in many countries across the world are overpopulated.  Prisons in some jurisdictions are also known for their failure to provide a hygienic  environment and in some cases, adequate medical care especially for inmates on death row.  Such neglect can have huge implications on the health and safety of prisoners who face a high  risk of infection if prisons become epicenters of this fatal disease.  

We support the call of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet for  States to adhere to their obligations under international human rights law “to work to prevent  foreseeable threats to public health and ensure that all who need vital medical care can  receive it”.  

Therefore we call for the following actions: 

• All scheduled executions be immediately halted given the lack of access to lawyers,  family members and Court review resulting from Covid-19 restrictions; 
• That States ensure all prisoners including those on death row are provided the UN  Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (also known as the ‘Nelson  Mandela Rules’); 
• That the State ensures prisons implement the ‘Interim Guidance: Covid-19 Focus on  Persons Deprived of their liberty’ produced by the OHCHR and WHO (27 March 2020)  to ensure that prisons provide all the necessary health and hygiene provisions  required to protect prisoners, staff and visitors from the spread of infection; 
• That prisons report transparently on the exact measures they have taken to ensure  the health and safety of prisoners in accordance with the ‘Interim Guidance: Covid-19  Focus on Persons Deprived of their liberty’; 
• That appropriate measures are taken to provide immediate treatment and complete  isolation to those diagnosed positive with Covid-19 or displaying symptoms consistent  with Covid-19, and immediate isolation for those in any way in contact with the  affected prisoners;  
• Consideration be given to early release of elderly prisoners and prisoners with  underlying health conditions and the granting of bail to prisoners awaiting trial to  reduce the overcrowding in jails given the need for physical distancing to control the  spread of Covid-19; and 
•  That any restrictions on visits to prisons be imposed with full transparency and  balanced with increased access to phone calls and letters with family member.