Magdalena massacre hearing at the IACHR: the State acknowledges responsibility for the 33 deaths
More than 17 years later, the Argentine State acknowledged before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights its international responsibility for the incident and committed to put a series of measures in place to prevent such cruel deaths from ever happening again. CELS and the Colectivo de Investigación y Acción Jurídica (CIAJ) took part in the hearing as representatives of the victim’s families.
Magdalena massacre at the IACHR: Detention conditions worsen in Buenos Aires province
The Argentine state is responsible for the country’s detention conditions at the international level. The trial over the deaths that occurred 13 years ago bore witness to the grave consequences of a penitentiary system in crisis.
“Argentina is responsible for widespread and persistent violations of the Convention against torture”
The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, upon concluding his visit to the country, said that detention conditions in provincial police stations and prisons “severely contravene international standards and are incompatible with human dignity.” He also denounced the “degrading” conditions in the Melchor Romero psychiatric hospital and police violence in low-income neighborhoods. At the same time, he urged the Argentine state to allocate “sufficient resources to ensure the timely processing and adjudication of the remaining cases and trials for crimes against humanity.”
Magdalena prison fire: Court convicts warden and official overseeing the operation
Twelve years after the fact, a criminal court convicted three officials from the Buenos Aires Penitentiary Service over the 33 deaths that occurred in a prison in the town of Magdalena.
Trial over deaths of 33 people trapped in Magdalena prison fire
One month ago, the trial over the “Magdalena massacre” began. The testimony thus far confirms that prison officials locked the pavilion where a fire had broken out and left the scene. 33 of the 35 people trapped inside died of asphyxia or burns.
The UN Human Rights Committee analyzed the state of civil and political rights in Argentina
Dialogue between the UN Human Rights Committee and the Argentine state regarding compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Mandela Rules update international standards for guaranteeing rights of people deprived of liberty
The Rules are a parameter for detention conditions worldwide. They were updated, for the first time in 60 years, with the objective of providing greater protection to persons deprived of their liberty.
