HUMAN RIGHTS CULTURE CHANGE IN PLACES OF DETENTION Human rights culture change in places of detention 1. What is human rights culture change? Human rights culture change can be understood as: ‘the process of moving an organisation to be more inclusive and to fully respect and accommodate the dignity, worth and rights of all people’.37 This involves changing shared attitudes and values in places of detention, to ones that value respect for human dignity and the principles of rule of law, non-discrimination and equality, accountability, empowerment and participation. Culture is recognised as one of the organisational attributes that is most difficult to change.38 Human rights culture change can therefore take time. It is not easy to change deep-seated beliefs about why things are done the way they are. There is often scepticism among staff of places of detention about human rights: that they actually mean giving privileges to the detainees to the detriment of the needs of the staff. In reality however, moving the culture of places of detention to one based on human rights can bring important benefits for both staff and persons deprived of their liberty. 2. Benefits of human rights culture change Human rights culture change improves the quality of life of detainees as well as the working conditions for staff. Citing experience from some of the most problematic prisons in the world, the International Centre for Prison Studies has noted that there is a ‘pragmatic justification for [the human rights] approach to prison management: it works. This approach does not represent a liberal or soft approach to prison management….this style of management is the most effective and safest way of managing prisons’.39 Moving away from a climate of violence and hostility can contribute to security of staff and improve their experience at work. These benefits are highlighted by the experience of the State Hospital in Scotland, a high security mental health hospital with voluntary and involuntary patients, the latter detained under criminal and mental health legislation. In response to criticism about its treatment of patients, the hospital sought to develop and implement a human rights-based approach, through a participatory process involving staff, carers and patients. The process took place from 2002 to 2004 and consisted of a human rights audit of practices and policies, development of a human rights charter and best practices manual, and human rights training. The benefits identified by an independent evaluation are outlined below (see box). Benefits of human rights culture change in a high security mental health hospital in Scotland • A change in the culture from ‘them and us’ • • • • to a positive and constructive atmosphere of mutual respect between staff and patients Increased work-related satisfaction among staff Increased satisfaction among patients over care and treatment Staff reported a reduction in stress and anxiety Staff reported a reduced ‘fear’ of human rights and an increased understanding of how to make choices and the meaning and benefit of their own human rights. Scottish Human Rights Commission, Human Rights in a Health Care Setting: Making it Work. An Evaluation of a human rights-based approach at The State Hospital, 2009. Efforts for human rights culture change in places of detention go hand in hand with work to prevent torture and other ill-treatment because they are forward looking and seek to create an environment over the long term where abuse is less likely to occur. There are different ways to change culture in places of detention: gradually, unintentionally or through deliberate and intended action. There is no one magic solution to achieving human rights culture change in these places. 37. Ontario Human Rights Commission, Human Rights and Policing: Creating and sustaining organisational change, 2011, p8. 38. E Schein, op.cit. 39. A Coyle, A human rights approach to prison management, International Centre for Prison Studies, 2009, p9. 12 | Penal Reform International | Institutional culture in detention: a framework for preventive monitoring