ICN Position:

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) endorses the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and the Geneva Convention of 1949 ¹ and the additional protocols.  ICN therefore asserts that: 
 

• Prisoners and detainees have the right to health care and humane treatment. 
• We condemn interrogation procedures harmful to mental and physical health.
• Prisoners and detainees have a right to refuse treatment or diagnostic procedures and to die with dignity and in peaceful manner.

 Nurses have a fundamental responsibility to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health and to alleviate suffering. Their primary responsibility is to those people who require nursing care. ²     Nurses are often the first health professionals to suspect or detect ill-treatment of detainees and prisoners. It is important that they adhere to ethical principles in caring for detainees and prisoners, and should be guided by the following:
 

• Nurses who have knowledge of ill-treatment of detainees and prisoners must take appropriate action to safeguard their rights.
• Nurses employed in prison health services do not assume functions of prison security personnel, such as body searches conducted for the purpose of prison security.
• Nurses participate in clinical research on prisoners and detainees only with their informed consent.
• National nurses associations (NNAs) and individual nurses should be protected from abuse related to providing care to detainees and prisoners. 
• NNAs should provide access to confidential advice, counsel and support for prison nurses. 

Background:

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, states that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and no one shall be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. 
 

The Geneva Convention of 1949 and the additional protocols, in case of armed conflict entitle members of armed forces, prisoners and persons taking no part in hostilities to protection and humane treatment.

References
1. International Committee of the Red Cross, Rights and Duties of Nurses under the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, Geneva ICRC, 1970
2. International Council of Nurses, Code for Nurses, Geneva, ICN, Adopted 1973, Reaffirmed in 1989
 
 

Adopted in 1998

(Replaces previous ICN Position: �The Nurse�s Role in the Care of Detainees and Prisoners�, adopted 1975) Related ICN Positions:· Nurses and Human Rights.· Rights of Children· Nuclear war· Torture, Death Penalty and participation by Nurses in Executions
 

The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 120 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.

ICN/PS/99/7

Related ICN Positions:· Nurses and Human Rights.· Rights of Children· Nuclear war· Torture, Death Penalty and participation by Nurses in Executions