UN urges more humane treatment of prisoners

The United Nations torture prevention body is urging the Philippines to deal urgently with prison overcrowding and improve independent monitoring of places of detention as part of efforts to protect prisoners against torture and cruel treatment.

In a statement, Suzanne Jabbour, head of the Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), on Thursday said she hopes the Philippine government will use a report that the committee submitted after its first visit to Manila.