Topic: 2025 – Treatment of Prisoners
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Alliance Uwajeneza
Human Rights Council
Treatment of Prisoners
Bolivia
Alliance Uwajeneza
City High School
Poor prison conditions, overcrowding, and limited access to legal support remain global issues, and Bolivia is no exception. As the number of incarcerated individuals grows, questions about the capacity of prison systems and the ethical treatment of inmates have become more urgent. The UN continues to collaborate with international partners, such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, to investigate conditions, issue recommendations, and help states strengthen protections for detainees. These strategies emphasize that safeguarding prisoners’ rights is essential for justice systems to function fairly and effectively.
Bolivia has been working to confront its own problems with prison conditions, many of which are tied to overcrowding and long pre-trial detention. Regional reports show that a large portion of people in Bolivian prisons are still waiting for their cases to move through the courts, which puts extra pressure on facilities that were never designed to hold so many inmates. This makes it hard to provide basics like healthcare, sanitation, or even safe living spaces. In response, the government has introduced reforms aimed at speeding up judicial processes and improving access to public defenders so people aren’t kept in detention for unnecessary lengths of time. Bolivia has also welcomed support from UN partners and human rights groups, who help review conditions and offer guidance on meeting international standards like the Mandela Rules. These efforts show progress, but day-to-day improvements are still slow because of limited funding and understaffed institutions.
Bolivia’s approach to improving the treatment of prisoners involves both national reform and cooperation with outside organizations. The country has been trying to reduce the number of people entering the prison system for minor offenses by expanding alternatives such as community service and restorative programs, which help ease pressure on overcrowded facilities. Bolica has also worked with international groups to train prison staff and strengthen monitoring so abuses are less likely to go unnoticed. While building more prisons is sometimes suggested, Bolivia recognizes that expanding infrastructure alone won’t solve the issue. Long-term change depends on fixing the causes of overcrowding, especially slow court procedures and the overuse of pre-trial detention. By continuing to work with regional partners and strengthening its own justice system, Bolivia aims to create a more humane and fair environment for people in custody.
Bolivia. (2024, January 11). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/bolivia#:~:text=a%20timely%20manner.-,Detention%20Conditions,Justice%20for%202019%20Abuses
Bolivia | World Prison Brief. (n.d.). https://www.prisonstudies.org/country/bolivia
Bolivia – United States Department of State. (2025, January 3). United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/bolivia#:~:text=The%20judge%20must%20order%20the,percent%20were%20in%20preventive%20detention
Bolivia: ICRC activities for persons deprived of their liberty. (2024, January 17). International Committee of the Red Cross. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/bolivia-icrc-activities-persons-deprived-their-liberty
