The UN wants the Ary Franco prison in Rio de Janeiro to be closed.

Agency Brazil - The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has recommended that Brazil immediately close the Ary Franco men's prison in Rio de Janeiro. According to a report released this Thursday, the 14th, the facility's infrastructure is inadequate and there are not enough professionals in the areas of social assistance, health, and education. Furthermore, there are cases of overcrowding and torture.

“The SPT reiterates the appeal made in its preliminary observations to the state for the immediate closure of the Ary Franco prison. Following this, the facility should be permanently deactivated or completely restructured and remodeled,” recommends the UN subcommittee.

According to observers, the cells at Ary Franco prison are generally dark, dirty, stuffy, and infested with cockroaches and other insects. Severe overcrowding and poor cell maintenance have resulted in conditions that create serious health problems for inmates, such as fungal infections and other skin and stomach diseases. In some cells, the subcommittee observed that the sewage system from the upper floors was leaking through the ceiling and walls.

The cells in the most precarious condition are located in the basement of the main building, especially in areas where prisoners need protection from other inmates. Corridor A, a unit dedicated to protected prisoners, has an official capacity of 296 inmates, but housed 457 detainees at the time of the visit. The unit's accommodation capacity consists of 21 multi-occupancy cells (30 square meters each), each containing two sets of bunk beds and a sink or shower. Each cell housed up to 30 detainees, half of whom slept on the floor without proper bedding.

"The precarious material conditions in the Ary Franco facilities are exacerbated by the fact that inmates are locked in their overcrowded cells, without proper ventilation or natural light, continuously for up to two or three weeks – only ten prisoners from each cell had access to the one-hour weekly rotation for sunbathing."

At Ary Franco prison, the subcommittee observed that inmates are treated in a consistently degrading manner. The UN group received consistent reports of mistreatment, including the destruction of belongings by prison officers. Inmates were forced to adopt humiliating positions during transfers or inspections. Finally, it also received reports of beatings.

According to the UN, Rio de Janeiro should follow the example of Espírito Santo, which closed and demolished the Viana prison in 2010. After allegations of mistreatment of prisoners, the State Court ordered the prison closed and prohibited the admission of new inmates. The prisoners who were in Viana were transferred to other penitentiaries in the state.

The subcommittee visited the states of Goiás, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo between September 19 and 30, 2011. In addition to visiting 23 detention facilities, including police stations, prisons, and juvenile detention centers, the group participated in meetings with government authorities, the UN System in Brazil, and members of civil society. In its report, besides highlighting the problems and complaints against the prison system, the SPT also makes several recommendations to the country.

In reply to Agency BrazilThe Penitentiary Administration Secretariat announced late in the afternoon that it is willing to close the prison, but stressed that this requires the construction of other prison units.