Political prisoner facts for kids
A political prisoner is someone who is put in prison because of their political actions or beliefs. This often means they disagree with or speak out against the government in their country.
What is a Political Prisoner?
A political prisoner is a person held in jail not because they committed a regular crime, but because of their political views or activities. They might be someone who protested against the government, wrote articles criticizing leaders, or simply belongs to a group that the government doesn't like.
How Do We Define a Political Prisoner?
In October 2012, a group called the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) created a clear way to decide if someone is a political prisoner. PACE is an important organization that works to protect human rights and democracy in Europe.
According to PACE, a person in prison can be considered a "political prisoner" if:
- They are put in prison in a way that goes against the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This includes basic rights like freedom to think what you want, freedom of speech, and the right to gather peacefully.
- They are in prison for political reasons, not because they broke a law that applies to everyone.
- Because of political reasons, the time they spend in prison or the conditions they are kept in are much too harsh for what they are accused of.
- They are put in prison in an unfair way, just because of politics, compared to how other people are treated.
- They had a trial that wasn't fair, and this unfairness was connected to political reasons.
This definition helps international groups decide when someone's human rights might be violated because of their political beliefs.
Images for kids
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A robot representing a child's perspective.
