Djibouti
Practice Relating to Rule 124. ICRC Access to Persons Deprived of Their Liberty
Djibouti’s Manual on International Humanitarian Law (2004) states: “In order for the ICRC to be able to carry out its task of guardian of international humanitarian law, the [1949] Geneva Conventions grant the ICRC a right of access to prisoners of war and civilians. They
inter alia confer an extensive right of initiative.”
The manual also lists “visits to persons deprived of their liberty” as an example of the ICRC’s “general action to provide protection and assistance to the civilian population”.
In 2011, in the History and Geography Textbook for Ninth Grade, Djibouti’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, under the heading “Protection of prisoners”, stated:
Visiting prisons: IHL provides that neutral humanitarian organizations, such as the ICRC, visit the prisoners in prisons and camps where they are held and supervise their treatment. After having visited the prisoners, the ICRC makes recommendations to the relevant authorities. Such reports and conclusions remain confidential and shall be discussed only with the responsible authorities.
The ministry also stated: “IHL grants humanitarian [actors] the right to visit prisoners, to provide them with care and ensure that their rights are respected.”