Confronting Human Rights violations in Argentinean, Chilean and Venezuelan prisons

A lost struggle?

Bachelor Thesis , 2009 , 24 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Politics - Region: Middle and South America

It will be argued that Human Rights violations in Argentinean, Chilean and Venezuelan prisons represent a non-resolved challenge for the civil rights coalition. This is related to the fact that the civil rights coalition (1) has had serious problems to adapt to the present institutional framework characterised by the democratization and the anomie of the state. (2) Furthermore, the civil rights coalition has lost the battle for the dominant public security concept, whereas the law and order coalitions has established its repressive oriented strategy as the dominant perspective to increase public security. (3) For this reasons, the accusation presented by the civil rights coalition before both the Interamerican Human Rights (IHR) Commission and Court, as also the sentences and recommendations pronounced by them, can be seen as a first step to revert the current situation but certainly not as a definite victory of the civil rights coalition.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. The struggle for the rights of the imprisoned people..
  • 2.1. Some considerations about the boomerang effect.
  • 2.2. The public security issue in a democratic and anomic state.
  • 2.2. The situation inside Argentinean, Venezuelan, and Chilean prisons
  • 2.4. The discourse on public security concept .......
  • The Manhattan Institute: diffuser of repressive strategies...
  • The civil rights coalition: a defeated coalition?
• 3. The Interamerican System for the Protection of Human Rights: An essential ally of the civil rights coalition.
• 4. Concluding Remarks

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to examine the challenging circumstances faced by the convicted population in Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. It investigates the paradox of these democratic countries, despite their commitments to international human rights instruments, consistently violating the human rights of their incarcerated populations. The study delves into the complex dynamics of the public security debate, focusing on the competing narratives of the "civil rights coalition" and the "law and order coalition."

• The challenges faced by the civil rights coalition in protecting the rights of the imprisoned.
• The impact of democratization and state anomie on the human rights situation in prisons.
• The competing public security concepts: repressive strategies vs. human rights-based approaches.
• The role of the Interamerican System for the Protection of Human Rights in addressing human rights violations in prisons.
• The application and limitations of the boomerang effect model in the context of democratic states.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

1. Introduction

This chapter introduces the study's focus on human rights violations within the prison systems of Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. It highlights the paradoxical situation of these democratic nations that have ratified international human rights agreements while continuing to infringe upon the rights of their incarcerated populations. The chapter establishes the importance of considering the human rights situation in prisons within the broader public security debate, identifying two opposing coalitions: the civil rights coalition and the law and order coalition. It argues that human rights violations in these countries represent a significant challenge for the civil rights coalition, emphasizing its difficulties in adapting to the present institutional framework and the dominance of the law and order coalition's repressive perspective.

2. The struggle for the rights of the imprisoned people

2.1. Some considerations about the boomerang effect

This section explores the boomerang effect model, developed by Risse and Sikkink, which suggests that domestic groups in repressive states can bypass their governments and seek support from international allies to pressure their governments to improve their human rights practices. The study examines the applicability of this model to democratic states, questioning the effectiveness of the boomerang effect in prompting norm-conform behavior within these contexts.

2.2. The public security issue in a democratic and anomic state.

This section delves into the complexities of the public security debate in democratic and anomic states. It analyzes the impact of state instability, corruption, and inefficiency on the protection of human rights within prison systems.

2.2. The situation inside Argentinean, Venezuelan, and Chilean prisons

This section offers a detailed description of the prevailing conditions within the prison systems of Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. It highlights the specific human rights violations occurring within these institutions, including overcrowding, inadequate medical and sanitary services, and excessive use of force by security personnel.

2.4. The discourse on public security concept

This section examines the competing public security concepts prevalent in these countries. It analyzes the influence of the Manhattan Institute, a think tank promoting repressive strategies, and the challenges faced by the civil rights coalition in advocating for human rights-based approaches.

3. The Interamerican System for the Protection of Human Rights: An essential ally of the civil rights coalition.

This chapter explores the role of the Interamerican System for the Protection of Human Rights (IHR) in addressing human rights violations in prisons. It examines the accusations presented to the IHR Commission and Court, the resulting sentences and recommendations, and their potential impact on promoting change within the prison systems.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study explores the intersection of human rights, public security, and prison reform in Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. Key terms and concepts include: civil rights coalition, law and order coalition, boomerang effect, human rights violations, state anomie, prison overcrowding, Interamerican System for the Protection of Human Rights (IHR), democratic states, repressive strategies, and public security.

• College: Free University of Berlin (Otto-Suhr-Institut für Sozial- und Politikwissenschaften)
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Lautaro Adrian Vilches (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 24
• Catalog Number: V131647
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640374953
• ISBN (Book): 9783640375073
• Language: English
• Tags: prison, chile, argentina, venezuela, human rigts, interamerican human rights court