VCCR: The Purpose & Scope of Consular Assistance
While consular assistance for detained nationals can take many forms, each intervention serves three basic functions. The first is humanitarian: consuls provide detainees with access to the outside world (e.g. communicating with family and friends) and ensure that they are provided with basic necessities while incarcerated. A consular presence alleviates the distress of detainees by assuring that an authority representing their country of citizenship will safeguard their interests.
The second function is protective: consular visits help to ensure that foreign nationals are not mistreated in custody. Regular consular visits may in themselves deter misconduct by prison officials. Consular representatives may also intercede directly with the authorities when it is alleged that the detainee is suffering ill treatment at the hands of guards or fellow-prisoners.
The final function is legal assistance: consuls acquaint their nationals with the basic procedures under the local legal system, may provide them with lists of local lawyers to defend them and take other appropriate steps to ensure that their nationals receive fair and equal treatment under the laws of the arresting state.
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