Bolivia – Prison conditions improve thanks to mediation by Pope Francis

La Paz – Thanks to mediation on the part of Pope Francis, who on July 10 during his apostolic visit to Bolivia had a meeting with prison delegates, the “daily sum” has risen to 8 bolivianos. The rise will affect all 13,573 detainees in the country’s penitentiaries prison director general Jorge Lopez has announced.

“During the meeting with Bolivia’s prison delegates in Palmasola, Pope Francis’ request for intervention was presented, so then we worked together with government delegates to meet these needs “, Lopez said in a press conference, according to a report sent to Fides.
“Our debate ended – he said- with the approval of administrative resolution number 62/2015 for an increase in the “daily keep” for prison inmates in Bolivia, from 6,60 bolivianos to 8 bolivianos, as from the month of August”.
According to today’s exchange rates 8 bolivianos amount to about 1 euro.
Besides the rise in the “daily keep” it was also decided to improve prison health care services.