Online Program

295013
Tackling the 'shadow': Human rights and prisons, a European perspective


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

Eamonn O'Moore, MD, Department of Health, Public Health England, London SE1 8 UG, United Kingdom
Tackling the 'shadow': Health & Justice: a European perspective on human rights and prisons. What should be done in Europe as regards human rights and prisons is very clearly outlined in various important international agreements which the vast majority of countries in Europe have officially accepted. Yet a current assessment on behalf of WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION's Health In Prisons Programme (HIPP) shows widespread deviation from standards of quality and the principles of equivalence. We will refer to a new publication, "Good Governance for Prison Health in the 21st Century: Policy Guidance for Members of the WHO European Region", due for publication in Autumn 2013 at the WHO/Public Health England Conference in London. The title of this presentation is inspired by a quotation from T S Eliot: ‘Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act, Falls the shadow'. HIPP is pushing open doors in prisons to allow in the light to dispel the 'shadow' by ensuring the principle of equivalence guides practice in prison health, where quality is not compromised by context and advocating for Ministries of Health, not Ministries of Justice, to be responsible for designing and delivering healthcare to prisoners. This should help as regards equivalence of care, but some important parts of the 'shadow' will likely remain for some time to come, especially in resource-poor environments.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Ethics, professional and legal requirements
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Identify salient standards of quality for health practices from which many European prisons deviate. Describe how prison health practices in Europe fail to meet principles of equivalence. Explain recommendations to improve prison health in this year's publication, "Good Governance for Prison Health in the 21st Century: Policy Guidance for Members of the WHO European Region"

Keyword(s): Human Rights, Prisoners Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: my positions as Director of Health and Justice in the Health and Wellbeing Directorate of Public Health England and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health in Prisons Programme (European Region) have acquainted me with prison health in Europe and recent efforts toward its improvement.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.