Author: Argentina. Chief National Cabinet of Ministers
Title: Public Policies for Health Care in Prison Settings
Summary: The Argentine Republic throughout the 1994 reform of the National Constitution has incorporated with constitutional hierarchy by the article 75, clause 22, international instruments of Human Rights, which are part of the constitutional body. The National Government takes as an essential axis in its policies the promotion and assurance of Human Rights in prison settings and guarantees the dignity of persons deprived of their freedom and other rights that act as their support, such as the right of life, of physical integrity and of health care. In this constitutional frame, it has been a concern not only the protection of health, but also the support of a policy that insures the highest possible level of physical and mental health (art. 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), which would provide, in a prison setting, the same quality of health that the rest of the community have (principle of universality and equivalence). At first stage, it was crucial to consider health in prisons as a public policy and necessary for the Ministry responsible for the Public Health to assume the responsibility and dictate the protocols by which prevention and assistance in prisons must be guided. Moreover, coordination must exist among the different government agencies to guarantee the right to health care, as well as social inclusion of inmates. Therefore, on the 29th.July 2008, the Ministries of Justice, Security and Human Rights, Health and the Scientific Consultant Committee for Control of Illegal Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Complex Crimes (nowadays depends on the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers), they signed the framework agreement of cooperation in order to coordinate and improve the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, throughout the implementation of programs, activities and plans on integral policies for health care and social inclusion (education, work and social development). On the one hand, in order to modify the health penitentiary paradigm and guarantee health post-penitentiary mechanisms for the people deprived of their freedom, the creation of "Inter-Ministerial Office for the Social Inclusion of People on Freedom Situation" has been proposed, which coordinates the different Ministries involved. On the other hand, being Argentina a federal country, on 29th December 2009, it was signed an Agreement for Cooperation and Assistance in Prisons, of which the Chief of the Cabinet Ministers, the Ministry of Justice, Security and Human Rights, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Development and the Provinces of Salta, Mendoza, Tierra del Fuego and Buenos Aires; the Committee on Public Policies for Prevention and Control of Transnational Illegal Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Corruption was the technical consultant. Finally, this change of state policies, that is that Ministry of Health is the one who establishes the strategies for assistance and prevention in prisons, through coordinated actions with the Ministries of Justice, Social Development, Work and Education, enabling the access of persons deprived of their freedom to health, in accordance with the obligations assumed by our country by the International Covenants of Human Rights.
Details: Buenos Aires, Argentina: Chief National Cabinet of Ministers, 2010. 45p.
Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2011 at: www.jgm.gov.ar/archivos/jgm/public_policies_health_prison_en.pdf
Year: 2010
Country: Argentina
URL:
Shelf Number: 121113
Keywords:
Correctional ManagementInmatesPrison Health Care (Argentina)Prisoners |
