Shift in Solitary Confinement Policy Reaffirms Administration’s Commitment to Human Rights Standards

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today praised President Obama’s decision to limit the use of solitary confinement in federal prisons, a move that aligns U.S practices more closely with human rights standards.

“The administration’s policy shift on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders is a step toward protecting the human rights of children, and setting limits on the overall use of solitary confinement. This move marks progress toward ensuring that those who are held in our nation’s detention facilities are detained in accordance with human rights norms,” said Human Rights First’s Sharon Kelly McBride. “President Obama’s work to end abusive detention and interrogation practices will be a lasting part of his legacy.”