What are Prisoners of Conscience?
Prisoners of Conscience (POCs) are people who have been detained solely because of their beliefs or because of their ethnic origin, sex, color, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth or other status and who have not used or advocated violence. Some POCs are prominent individuals, active and well-known in public life. Most, however, are ordinary women, men and even children who come from all walks of life. Frequently they are not political dissidents. They are imprisoned simply for their peaceful exercise of their human rights.
