United Nations Detention Unit

The penitentiary was picked as a trial location for the International Criminal Court, through United Nations Security Council Resolution 1688 of 17 June 2006.

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor who was on trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone was also held in the penitentiary until his transfer to a UK prison in 2013.

As early as September 1991, the United Nations took note of the situation and urged parties to the conflict to abide by international law.

On 25 May 1993, the UN Security Council passed resolution 827 formally establishing the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, known as the ICTY.

[5] The unit runs a comprehensive program of remand which has a full daily schedule providing for fresh air, exercise, medical care, occupational therapy, spiritual guidance, conditions suitable for the preparation of defence, IT facilities and training, visiting and recreational and sport activities.

The unit is subject to frequent independent inspections by external agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Starting June 2006, the UNDU in The Hague also serves as the International Criminal Court's (ICC) detention centre.

Other detainees held in the ICC Detention Centre included Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Germain Katanga, Jean-Pierre Bemba, Laurent Gbagbo, Bosco Ntaganda, Charles Blé Goudé, Dominic Ongwen, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi amongst others.

Main entrance to the Hague Penitentiary Institution at the Scheveningen location
Security area at the entrance at the Scheveningen location
A typical 10 m 2 [ 1 ] single cell at the ICTY detention facilities