International responsibility of States and the duty of custody: international standards applicable to detention centers

Abstract

This paper explores the scope of the standards that the International Human Rights System,particularly the Interamerican System, has developed in connection with the duty of custody,regarding persons who are deprived of their liberty. The authors approach the particularnature of the State’s international responsibility on this subject, the scope of the State’sresponsibility regarding vulnerable populations within the penitentiary establishments, as wellas the demands made to the State in order to adapt the penitentiary system in general, inorder to guarantee the inmate’s human rights.