In the Philippines a law was passed that prohibits the imprisonment of children under 15 years of age. Despite this fact there are still many minors imprisoned in in tiny overcrowed cells under unhygienic conditions. As they are imprisoned together with adults there is the danger of them being sexually abused or becoming victims to violence.
The police often arrest suspects without a warrant or even witnesses. Some of them are innocent and imprisoned for little things. Many of the imprisoned youths say that neither parents, people in charge or social workers are informed about the arrest. According to the Philippine law, all prisoners are to be presented to the custodial judge immediately after being arrested, but they are often imprisoned for a long time without even a court hearing.
Sandra Hoyn (b. 1976) is an independent photojournalist based in Hamburg, Germany. She studied photography at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, graduating in 2005. She started working for magazines, NGOs and on her personal photo projects, focusing on social, environmental and human rights issues.
Awards 2017 she received the first prize of the Sony World Photography Awards in category daily life and POYi – Pictures of the Year International third place category portrait. In 2016 she received the Magnum Photography Award in category photojournalism, 2015 World Press Photo Award third prize, category nature singles.
