Terms of Use

1. General information

These Terms of Use govern access, browsing and use of the websites owned by PRISONERS DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK, operating publicly under the name Prisoners Defenders.

Prisoners Defenders is an association established in Spain, declared of public utility by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, whose main activity is the active legal defence of human rights.

2. Acceptance

Access to, browsing or use of the websites confers user status and implies acceptance of these Terms of Use. Mere access to the websites does not imply the establishment of any contractual, commercial, professional or associative relationship between Prisoners Defenders and the user.

The user must use the websites in accordance with the law, good faith, public order and these Terms of Use, the Legal Notice, the Privacy Policy and the Cookie Policy. If the user does not agree with these Terms of Use, they must refrain from using the websites.

3. Purpose of the websites

The websites have an informative, institutional, documentary and active legal human rights defence purpose. Through the websites, Prisoners Defenders may publish, disseminate or make available to the public, among other content:

• Legal and human rights reports.
• Institutional press releases.
• Documents, lists, information databases or materials related to political prisoners, victims, relatives, whistleblowers or human rights violations.
• Information on complaints, actions, campaigns, projects or human rights defence initiatives.
• Educational, institutional or documentary content.
• Forms or specific communication, complaint, subscription or contact channels when available.
• Links to documents, social media, bodies, institutions, media, platforms or external sources.

Prisoners Defenders does not sell products or services through the websites and does not conduct commercial campaigns.

4. Free access

General access to the websites and their content is free of charge, unless otherwise expressly stated in a specific case. Certain services, forms or functionalities may be subject to technical requirements, validations, acceptance of specific conditions or additional security measures.

5. Permitted use

Users may consult, download and disseminate reports, press releases and materials published by Prisoners Defenders, provided that:

• The source is clearly cited as "Prisoners Defenders".
• Content is not altered, manipulated or taken out of context.
• Content is not used for misleading, unlawful, defamatory, anti-human rights or harmful purposes.
• No unauthorised commercial use is made.
• Intellectual property, industrial property, image, honour, privacy, data protection and other rights of Prisoners Defenders or third parties are respected.

Authorisation to consult, download and disseminate does not imply assignment of intellectual or industrial property rights or authorisation to commercially exploit the content.

6. Prohibited uses

The following uses of the websites are expressly prohibited:

• Carrying out cyberattacks, intrusions, unauthorised access attempts, denial-of-service attacks, introduction of viruses, malware or malicious code.
• Scraping, mass extraction, automated copying, systematic collection or unauthorised reuse of content or documentary databases.
• Impersonating Prisoners Defenders, its representatives, sources, victims, relatives, collaborators, users or third parties.
• Using content for fraudulent, unlawful, unauthorised commercial, propagandistic, misleading or anti-human rights purposes.
• Disseminating Prisoners Defenders content without citing the source or without authorisation where required.
• Manipulating, altering or decontextualising reports, lists, documents, data or communications.
• Publishing, transmitting or submitting false, inaccurate, offensive, threatening, defamatory, discriminatory, violent, unlawful or dignity-violating information.
• Infringing the rights of minors, victims, relatives, whistleblowers, witnesses, protected sources or persons at risk.
• Violating intellectual property, industrial property, data protection, honour, privacy, image or any other rights of Prisoners Defenders or third parties.
• Attempting to circumvent security measures, access controls, technical limitations or protection mechanisms of the websites.

Prisoners Defenders reserves the right to block, suspend, restrict or prevent access to the websites for any user who violates these Terms of Use or compromises the security of the systems or of persons.

7. Content published by Prisoners Defenders

Prisoners Defenders makes reasonable efforts to ensure that published content is accurate, up to date and consistent with its institutional purpose. Content may be subject to updating, expansion, correction, replacement or revision, particularly when it concerns evolving information, lists, periodic reports, complaints, institutional communications or documentation relating to ongoing events. Prisoners Defenders may modify, update, withdraw or reorganise any published content when deemed necessary, without prior notice.

8. Content or information provided by users

When available channels allow users to submit information, communications, forms, complaints or data, the user undertakes to ensure that such information is truthful, relevant and lawful. Prisoners Defenders may decline to process, archive or respond to communications that are manifestly false, abusive, unlawful or contrary to these Terms of Use.

Submission of information to Prisoners Defenders does not necessarily imply opening of a case, acceptance of the case, legal representation, commitment to act or obligation to respond.

9. Confidentiality and sensitive sources

Prisoners Defenders maintains a confidentiality policy regarding sensitive or at-risk sources, and may limit, protect, anonymise, withhold or not publish information when considered necessary to protect persons or preserve the security of its sources. Users must refrain from sending information that could put third parties at risk if they do not have sufficient authorisation to do so.

10. Intellectual and industrial property

All content on the websites is owned by PRISONERS DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK or used under authorisation or legitimate title. Access to the websites does not confer upon the user any rights over such content, other than the limited authorisation to consult, download and disseminate under the terms set out herein. Unless prior express authorisation from Prisoners Defenders is obtained, the following are prohibited: commercial use of content; reproduction, distribution, public communication, transformation or exploitation of content without citing the source; modification or manipulation of reports, press releases, lists, documentary databases or published materials; use of Prisoners Defenders trademarks, logos, names, distinctive signs or corporate image for unauthorised purposes; use of content in a way that could create confusion about the authorship, endorsement, participation or institutional position of Prisoners Defenders.

11. Links to third-party websites

The websites may contain links to pages, documents, social media, videos, platforms, public bodies, institutions, media outlets or other third-party websites. Prisoners Defenders does not control or accept responsibility for the content, accuracy, availability, security, operation, privacy policies, terms of use or practices of linked external websites. The inclusion of external links does not imply approval, recommendation, validation, endorsement or responsibility by Prisoners Defenders regarding the linked content, services, opinions or entities.

12. Social media

Prisoners Defenders maintains an institutional presence on:

• https://x.com/PrisonersDFNdrs
• https://www.facebook.com/PrisonersDefenders
• https://www.instagram.com/prisonersdefenders/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/prisoners-defenders/
• https://www.youtube.com/@PrisonersDefenders

Use of these platforms is governed by the conditions, community standards and privacy policies of each social network or platform.

13. Security and browsing

Prisoners Defenders makes reasonable efforts to keep the websites available, secure and free from harmful elements. However, it does not guarantee the complete absence of errors, interruptions, viruses, attacks, technical failures or incidents beyond its control. Prisoners Defenders shall not be liable for damages arising from: Internet or third-party technical interruptions or failures; external attacks or security incidents not attributable to Prisoners Defenders; improper use of the websites by the user; incompatibilities with the user's devices, browsers, extensions or configuration; inappropriate download, use or interpretation of published content.

14. Cookies

The websites may use technical or functional cookies necessary for their correct operation. Prisoners Defenders does not use cookies for commercial, advertising, commercial profiling or behavioural advertising purposes. Cookie use is governed by the Cookie Policy published on the websites.

15. Personal data protection

The processing of personal data arising from access, browsing, content subscriptions, sending communications, use of forms or contact with Prisoners Defenders is governed by the Privacy Policy. Users may contact Prisoners Defenders on privacy and data protection matters at: legal@prisonersdefenders.org

16. Informational communications

When users expressly subscribe to content, Prisoners Defenders may send reports, press releases, publications or updates linked to its institutional and human rights defence activity. These communications are not commercial in nature. Users may unsubscribe at any time by writing to legal@prisonersdefenders.org.

17. Language and prevalence of the Spanish version

Prisoners Defenders content, reports and documents are primarily produced in Spanish. Where translations into other languages exist, these are intended to facilitate international readability and dissemination. Unless expressly stated otherwise, in the event of discrepancy or doubt, the Spanish version shall prevail.

18. Amendments to Terms of Use

Prisoners Defenders may modify these Terms of Use at any time to adapt them to regulatory, technical, organisational or operational changes. The current version will be the one published at any given time on the websites. Users are advised to review these Terms of Use periodically.

19. Applicable law and jurisdiction

These Terms of Use are governed by Spanish law. For any dispute arising from access to, browsing or use of the websites, the parties submit to the competent courts under applicable law, with reference to Madrid, Spain.

20. Contact

Entry into force: April 2019 · Last revised: 25/06/2025