[ Mise en œuvre du droit à la santé des détenus à la prison centre de Bunia: Analyse juridique et empirique des conditions sanitaires en milieu carcéral ]
Volume 85, Issue 2, July 2026, Pages 76–88
David RAMAZANI KISEMBO1
1 Assistant d’enseignement de deuxième mandat (Ass2), Faculté de Droit, Université de Bunia (UNIBU, RDC), Bunia, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This study examines the implementation of prisoners’ right to health at Bunia Central Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2020 and 2023. The research is based on a legal and empirical approach combining the analysis of national legal provisions governing prisoners’ health rights and statistical data collected from the prison administration and prison health services. The legal framework recognizes health as a fundamental human right applicable to all persons, including detainees. Congolese legislation provides guarantees regarding medical care, hygiene, nutrition, accommodation, disease prevention, and access to health services in correctional institutions. However, the empirical findings reveal significant challenges affecting the effective realization of these rights. The study shows a persistent prison overcrowding problem. During the period under review, the prison population increased from 1,384 detainees in 2020 to 2,313 detainees in 2023, despite an initial capacity estimated at 500 inmates. The collected data further indicate several deaths linked to various illnesses as well as cases of mental health deterioration among detainees. The findings also highlight deficiencies in nutrition, hygiene conditions, infrastructure, and access to adequate healthcare services. The study concludes that despite the existence of a relatively protective legal framework, substantial gaps remain between legal standards and actual prison conditions. It recommends strengthening prison health services, improving detention conditions, reducing overcrowding, and enhancing public investment in the penitentiary system to ensure effective protection of detainees’ right to health.
Author Keywords: Prison health, Detainees’ rights, Prison overcrowding, Human rights, Correctional institutions, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Volume 85, Issue 2, July 2026, Pages 76–88
David RAMAZANI KISEMBO1
1 Assistant d’enseignement de deuxième mandat (Ass2), Faculté de Droit, Université de Bunia (UNIBU, RDC), Bunia, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
This study examines the implementation of prisoners’ right to health at Bunia Central Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2020 and 2023. The research is based on a legal and empirical approach combining the analysis of national legal provisions governing prisoners’ health rights and statistical data collected from the prison administration and prison health services. The legal framework recognizes health as a fundamental human right applicable to all persons, including detainees. Congolese legislation provides guarantees regarding medical care, hygiene, nutrition, accommodation, disease prevention, and access to health services in correctional institutions. However, the empirical findings reveal significant challenges affecting the effective realization of these rights. The study shows a persistent prison overcrowding problem. During the period under review, the prison population increased from 1,384 detainees in 2020 to 2,313 detainees in 2023, despite an initial capacity estimated at 500 inmates. The collected data further indicate several deaths linked to various illnesses as well as cases of mental health deterioration among detainees. The findings also highlight deficiencies in nutrition, hygiene conditions, infrastructure, and access to adequate healthcare services. The study concludes that despite the existence of a relatively protective legal framework, substantial gaps remain between legal standards and actual prison conditions. It recommends strengthening prison health services, improving detention conditions, reducing overcrowding, and enhancing public investment in the penitentiary system to ensure effective protection of detainees’ right to health.
Author Keywords: Prison health, Detainees’ rights, Prison overcrowding, Human rights, Correctional institutions, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Abstract: (french)
Cette étude analyse la mise en œuvre du droit à la santé des détenus à la prison centrale de Bunia en République démocratique du Congo. Elle repose sur une approche juridique et empirique fondée sur l’analyse des textes normatifs applicables aux droits des détenus ainsi que sur l’exploitation des données statistiques recueillies auprès de l’administration pénitentiaire et du service de la santé du même établissement carcéral. Il y a lieu d’admettre que le cadre juridique national reconnait le droit à la santé comme un droit fondamental applicable à toute personne, y compris aux personnes privées de liberté. La législation congolaise prévoit des garanties relatives à plusieurs droits. Toutefois, les résultats empiriques relevent plusieurs diffucultés compromettant l’effectivité de ces droits. Les données relevent une situation persistante de surpopulation carcérale. L’effectif est passé de 1 384 détenus en 2020 à 2313 en 2023 alors que la capacité initiale de l’établissement est estimée à 500 places. L’étude fait également ressortir plusieurs deces attribués à diiférentes pathologies ainsi que des cas de détérioriation de la santé mentale des détenus. Les resultats soulogent en outre des insuffisances liées à l’alimentation, aux conditions d’hygiene, aux infrastructures et à l’acces aux soins. L’étude conclut que malgreé l’existence d’un cadre juridique protecteur, un écart important subsiste entre les prescriptions normatives et les réalités observées. Elle recommande le renforcement des services de santé pénitentiaire, l’amélioration des conditions de détention, la réduction de la supropluarion carcérale er l’accroissement des investissements publics dans le secteur pénitentiaire.
Author Keywords: Santé Carcérale, Droit des détenus, Surpopulation Carcérale, Droits humains, Etablissement pénitentiaire, Prison centrale de Bunia.
How to Cite this Article
David RAMAZANI KISEMBO, “Implementation of Prisoners’ Right to Health at Bunia Central Prison: Legal and Empirical Analysis of Health Conditions in a Correctionall Facility,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. 76–88, July 2026.
