Guidance

Information pack for British prisoners in Paraguay

Updated 15 September 2020

1. Introduction

1.1 Who can help?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO):

The FCDO is represented overseas by its Embassies and Consulates (High Commissions in Commonwealth Countries). Both employ consular officers, and one of their duties is to provide help and advice to any British National who gets into difficulty in a foreign country.

1.2 About the Embassy

We are impartial; we are not here to judge you. We aim to make sure that you are treated properly and fairly in accordance with local regulations, and that you are treated no less favourably than other prisoners.

We can answer questions about your welfare and about prison regulations but you must ask your lawyer or the court about legal matters. The attached list of lawyers is provided by the British Embassy for your convenience, but neither His Majesty’s Government, nor any official of the Consulate, take any responsibility for the competence or probity of any firm/advocate on the list or for the consequence of any legal action initiated or advice given.

We cannot get you out of prison, pay fines or stand bail or interfere with local judicial procedures to get you out of prison nor secure you an earlier trial date; we cannot investigate a crime.

We have tried to make sure that the information in this booklet is accurate and up to date, but the British Embassy cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information. If in doubt contact a lawyer.

1.3 Who are the Consular Representatives?

Veronica Roa, Consular Officer and John Davie, Deputy Head of Mission. Both are in Asunción.

1.4 Contact information

British Embassy Asunción

Edificio Citicenter, Piso 5Av. Mariscal López y Cruz del Chaco
Asunción
1892
Paraguay

Email UkinParaguay@fcdo.gov.uk

Contact form https://www.gov.uk/con...

Switchboard + 595(0)21614589/+44 20 7008 5000

Alternative line 1 + 595(0)21665250

Alternative line 2 + 595(0)21665258

Use our contact form for consular enquiries:
www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-asuncion
For enquiries that are not about consular issues, email: UKinParaguay@fcdo.gov.uk

Open to the public

Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 12:00pm and from 14:00 pm to 16:00 pm. Friday from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

Office hours

Monday to Thursday from 08:30am to 17:30pm. Friday from 08:30am to 13:00pm.

Other channels

Consular Enquiries: +595 21 614 588, Option 2.

Website: www.gov.uk/world/paraguay.

2. First steps

2.1 Who will know I have been detained?

When a British national is arrested and detained in Paraguay, the Paraguayan authorities should inform the British Embassy immediately. However it is not unusual for the Embassy to be informed after you have been moved to a prison. You have the right to ask that they inform us immediately.

2.2 What will my family be told?

For reasons of confidentiality under the Data Protection Act we are not permitted to tell anyone, even your family that you have been detained or what the charges are without your permission. Whilst it is up to you what information we will pass to your family, it is sometimes best if we are able to give at least some information to them to ease their worrying; they can also help to send you money or pay for a lawyer. Furthermore, it is possible for family and friends to find out about your detention through the media or via the internet.

2.3 What will the Consulate do?

We aim to contact you 24 hours after we learn of your arrest and visit you within 48 hours; after this we aim to visit you every 3 months. During our routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our consular staff. At each consular visit, our staff will complete a “Visit Report Form”. If there is any information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next of Kin you should let us know during the visit.

If appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you are not treated in line with internationally-accepted standards.

We can also help your family to send funds to you via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. See Annex 1 for instructions on how to do so.

2.4 Would I have a criminal record in the UK?

You should be aware that if you have been convicted for certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to inform the UK police. It is therefore possible that information about this offence may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

3. Visits

3.1 How do my family and friends arrange a visit?

We advise the family to contact us well in advance so that we can inform the prison governor and work on the visiting programme.

In order to receive visitors you should provide the prison with the names of the people visiting you for them to be added to the Prison Visiting list. We will provide information on visiting procedures and details of what visitors can bring should your family members decide to come to Paraguay.

You can only receive visits from family members; friends are not allowed.

3.2 How many visits am I allowed?

In the majority of the prisons you are allowed to receive visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 09:00 to 14:00.

For security reasons those persons will be checked as well as their belongings.

3.3 Consular visits

We will visit you every three months. During our routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our Consular staff. At each Consular visit, our staff will complete a “Visit Report Form”. If there is any information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next of Kin you should let us know during the visit.

3.4 What can visitors bring?

This can vary from one prison to another in Paraguay and rules can frequently change. Families should contact the FCDO in advance of their visit so we can provide them with an updated list.

4. Prison conditions/services

4.1 Arrival at police station

You can expect to spend at least 2 days at the police station once arrested, before being transferred to a prison. Usually the Embassy is only informed of your arrest after you have been moved to a prison, but they should do it immediately after the detention. You have the right to ask for a diplomatic representative.

4.2 Arrival at prison

Your personal data will be checked as well as the judge’s detention order. You are likely to have your photo and fingerprints taken, as part of your personal file. You will be frisked on arrival to prevent any unauthorised substances or items from entering the facility. The authorities will take any personal belongings that you are not allowed keeping for security reasons. The storage of any belongings that are not part of the investigation, process, or evidence will need to be arranged privately.

The British Embassy cannot store your personal belongings on your behalf. The only property we can keep for you are your passport and driver’s licence. However, these are usually retained at the courts until the end of your sentence. Please note that your passport might be kept by the courts as evidence of the alleged crime or as a condition for your bail/parole. This measure is taken by the courts to prevent you from skipping bail.

Medical checks will be carried out by the prison health department in order to assess if you need any treatment for ongoing medical conditions (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, HIV).

4.3 General prison conditions

Overcrowding is a problem in Paraguayan prisons so you cannot expect a single cell as a matter of course. Sometimes not even a mattress will be available to you. Unfortunately the Embassy is not allowed to buy new mattresses; you will need to wait until the prison provides you with one. You should also be aware that the conditions of toilets and showers are extremely poor in Paraguayan prisons. You are allowed to wear your own clothes and you are also responsible for keeping your living quarters clean.

4.4 How can I receive money?

There are two ways in which you can receive financial assistance while in prison:

• private funds: Deposited for you by your family or friends. See Annex 1 for instructions on how to send funds via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

• Prisoners Abroad: If your family can’t support you financially Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials

Money received from the UK will be converted into local currency and held on your behalf by our Embassy and will be given directly to you on the next Consular visit. Please note that our Consular staff cannot be responsible for the loss of funds by the Prison Authorities.

Please note that the Embassy does not provide financial support to British nationals in prison abroad.

4.5 Can I work or study in prison?

You can study while in prison and depending on your behaviour you will be allowed to work and earn some money. The working system varies from one prison to another depending on their possibilities/financial situation.

4.6 Can I receive medical and dental treatment?

If you need medical or dental treatment you should make an appointment to see the prison doctor or dentist. In complex cases, transfer to public medical facilities is covered under an agreement with the Ministry of Health.

4.7 Food and diet

The prison serves standard food to all prisoners. In many of the prisons there is a cantina (canteen) where you can buy most of what you need with the money provided by your family and friends. Visitors are allowed to bring you some types of food.

4.8 Mail/parcels

There is usually no limit to the number of letters you may send (if you have paid the postage fee) or receive. Please be aware that the prison might read your letters before sending to the recipient. If you are told you are not allowed to receive letters in English, you should notify the Consular Officer and we will communicate with the Director of the prison.

If the Embassy receives letters addressed to you, we will open them to check for prohibited items, and we will deliver them to you in our next consular visit. Consular officers will not read the contents.

In some prisons it is easier to receive mail than to send it. You can hand your mail to a Consular Officer during a consular visit as long as the contents are checked with you first, and the proper postal fee is already paid for.

Our consular staff will reply to your written correspondence within our target of 20 working days (excluding postage time), but only if your correspondence is of what we consider to be a “serious nature”, e.g. if you have a serious health issue for which you need our help or if you have serious concerns for your safety. Please raise any issues with us during consular visits.

If you would like your family in the UK or elsewhere to email you, then please let them know that they may do so via our central email box: paraguay.consulate@fcdo.gov.uk. Please ask them to entitle their email with your full name together with the prison where you are detained. Messages from prisoners to their family and friends can only be sent if they can provide the Embassy with an email address. The messages will be forwarded to the families within 20 working days.

You can receive parcels from your family. Please be aware that parcels should be sent directly to the prison; parcels sent to the Embassy will not be forwarded to you.

4.9 Can I make telephone calls?

No. Prisoners are not allowed to make phone calls or to have or use mobile phones. If you are caught trying to use a mobile phone inside the prison you will be punished according to the prison’s regulations. As a result you may lose your job, school or place in the pavilion.

4.10 Leisure and entertainment

You should be allowed to exercise. Depending on the prison a detainee can have his/her own small TV set cassette player/radio. You can also have your own books to read.

4.11 Drugs

It is widely known that drug trafficking between inmates in prisons is widespread. If you are caught with any kind of illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc) you will be punished accordingly. As a result you may lose your job or school place and might be sent to confinement for a period.

Tobacco cigarettes are allowed inside Paraguayan prisons.

4.12 How can I make a complaint about mistreatment?

If you have been tortured or mistreated, please inform Consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to visit you; to check on your welfare; discuss the allegations; and inform you of any local complaints procedures and supportive organisations that you may wish to consider. With your permission, and where appropriate, we may also be able to raise your allegations of torture and/or mistreatment with the authorities.

5. The Paraguayan judicial system

The Embassy cannot interfere with the Paraguayan Judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged quickly, ask the authorities to waive any penalties, give or pay for legal advice, start legal proceedings on your behalf, investigate a crime or prevent the local authorities from deporting you at the end of your sentence, even if you were previously resident in the country. Neither can we collect your belongings and/or monies, which might have been confiscated at the time of detention.

5.1 Stages of the judicial system

Stage one: Preliminary research

• your criminal file will be handled by the Prosecutor and conducted by a Criminal Judge. You are entitled to the assistance of a legal advisor from the time of arrest. A public attorney (at no cost to yourself) is appointed by the Paraguayan State unless you wish to appoint your own private lawyer
• you can be taken to court to be questioned several times during the 6-8 months (could be less or more depending on the case) before the trial commences

Paraguayan criminal code allows the accused the following procedural exits in order to avoid Oral Trial. These procedures are imposed by the Criminal Judge during the investigative stage up to the preliminary hearing and are detailed as follows:

• extinction of the case: Established by Article 19 of the Criminal Procedural Code. By entering into an agreement with the victim and showing willingness to repair the damage. This also requires the previous acceptance of the prosecutor, the claimant (if any) and its attorney
• procedural suspension: the accused agrees to surrender to behavioural rules during a period of time, imposed by the Court, applicable when the Statute sets a penalty that it is not lower than one year and not superior to three (Probation)
• abbreviated trial (with suspense of the sentence): Article 420 of the Criminal Procedure Code on condition that the crime would merit imprisonment lower than 5 years.

Stage two: oral period trial

• if the accused does not attain one of the previous procedural exits, the case will be elevated to Oral Trial. Once all the preliminary procedures are completed at the Criminal Court, the case is forwarded to the Oral Tribunal. When the case ‘physically’ arrives at the Oral Tribunal, a date of trial will be set and a formal notification of the date of trial will be sent to you
• the average sentence for drug trafficking is usually 4 to 5 years in an abbreviated trial. This means that you understand and accept willingly and under no pressure all the charges against you, declaring yourself guilty. If this is the case, you would not have an oral trial
• if you wish to stand for the “juicio oral” (long oral hearing) declaring yourself innocent, the sentence can be longer if you are found guilty
• the sentence you receive starts counting from the moment you are detained for the first time. After serving two thirds of your sentence, and depending on your good behaviour, you will start “conditioned freedom” (parole) until completing the total sentence in Paraguay

Stage three: Courts

Your case is handled by the Juzgado de Ejecución (Executive Court). Once you have been sentenced, your case will pass to a third judge (Juez de Ejecución) and you will probably have a new Defender (Defensor de Ejecución).

5.2 What should happen when I am arrested?

When arrested you should be read all your rights and be informed that you may choose to remain silent (apart from giving your name and address) until you have spoken to your legal representative, after which the Judge will take your declaration (you will probably be taken to Court for this). You can expect to spend at least 2 days at the Police Station once arrested, before being transferred to a prison.

The Embassy should be informed immediately after the detention; however, we are usually informed of your arrest once you have arrived at Court where the judge will take your declaration. You have the right to ask for your diplomatic representative.

The Embassy cannot become involved in the legal aspect of your incarceration and cannot assume the role of a legal advisor. This task is reserved for your attorney. Should you not wish legal representation then the choice and consequences are solely yours.

We aim to contact you within the first 24 hours of being notified of your detention, and to visit you within the next 48 hours.

5.3 For how long can I be remanded in custody?

Depending on the crime committed and on the circumstances of detention, you might be incarcerated as soon as the judge takes your declaration the first time. You should ask your lawyer about the possibility of requesting your release while the legal process is in progress, but note that this may not always be granted.

Hearings usually take place between 24 to 48 hours from the date of arrest although in some cases it can be up to 72 hours. Normally the judge will hear the accused and the witnesses. If you are still in detention after 48 hours and the hearing has not taken place, we strongly suggest that you contact your lawyer immediately if you have not yet done so.

5.4 What happens when I am charged?

The courts will inform you, your lawyer/public defender and the prison authorities of your charges. If you do not have a private lawyer you will be assisted by a public defender that will put forward requests for benefits applicable to your case.

5.5 What provision is there for bail?

Depending of the nature of the case, bail may be granted. Your attorney/public defender will be best placed to advice on this matter.

5.6 What kind of legal assistance is available?

A Public Defender (Defensor Público) at no cost to yourself is appointed by the Paraguayan State unless you wish to appoint your own private lawyer. Please note that private lawyers may be very expensive and cannot guarantee your release, but you are free to investigate this option. In the case of a private lawyer, all legal costs incurred are for your own account and neither the Embassy nor the British government will bear this expense.

If you wish to transfer funds from the United Kingdom to Paraguay in order to cover legal costs, this transaction is to be processed through your commercial bank in the UK to the legal representatives. The Embassy cannot help you with this.

You can be taken to court to be questioned several times during the 6-8 months period (could be less or more in some cases) before the trial commences.

5.7 What happens at the trial?

On your trial day you will be taken to the court office where your case is being handled. There will be a Tribunal in charge of your case along with the public prosecutor and your attorney or public defender. If you don’t speak Spanish the court will be responsible for hiring an interpreter to assist you during the trial.

5.8 Sentences

Sentences depend on the seriousness of the crime. Your lawyer/public defender will be best placed to advise you on length of sentences and on appeals’ processes. The time spent in prison prior to your sentence will count as part of the total sentence to be served.

5.9 How can appeals be made?

You have the right to appeal against your sentence through your attorney or public defender. It is usual for the public defender to appeal against your first sentence; however, the appeal process is usually very slow and can sometimes lead to the appellant’s release being delayed until the appeal is decided. In such cases an attorney’s opinion of the case is strongly recommended before proceeding.

5.10 What provision is there for reduction of sentence (remission) e.g. for good behaviour?

Depending on the nature of the case and your behaviour, a Judge may grant a reduction of the sentence. Your attorney/public defender will be best placed to advice on this matter.

5.11 What provision is there for early release e.g. on parole?

After serving two thirds of your sentence, and provided you have displayed good conduct during the period of incarceration, you could be allowed to serve the rest of your sentence outside the prison in Paraguay. Your attorney/public defender will be best placed to advice on this matter.

If your family or friends can provide you with a fully paid return ticket you may ask the Judge for permission to visit your family. You will have to obtain the relevant permission to leave Paraguay, and go through some paperwork which you will have to do yourself. You will need to take the following steps:

1. Contact your “Defensor de Ejecucion”. Ask him for a form called “Solicitud de autorización de viaje”. You must fill it in with the required details and sign it.
2. Take the form to the Juzgado de Ejecución in charge of your Case (your Defensor de Ejecución will inform you of the address). The Juzgado de Ejecución will then evaluate your background (during the incarceration and while on parole) and if they approve, they will issue a “Certificado de Autorización de Viaje”.
3. You will require the following documents to travel:

• certificado de Autorización de Viaje
• return air ticket fully paid
• your valid passport. If expired you will need to apply for a new passport by following the steps on www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
• the Paraguayan Immigration Office will issue a certificate (“certificado”) and a letter addressed to the Senior Supervisor on Duty which you will have to take to the airport together with your passport and ticket in order to embark. You will have to show all these documents to the Passport Control Officer as you leave the country

5.12 What provision is there for clemency or pardon?

Ask your lawyer for detailed information on how government authorities in Paraguay can give pardon/clemency to people found guilty of committing a crime.

5.13 What about any financial penalties?

There are different types of penalties in Paraguayan Penal law. Depending on the crime committed, you might be forced to face a financial penalty decided by the Judge.

5.14 Is transfer to another prison within Paraguay possible?

This depends on circumstances and availability in other prisons. You should discuss this possibility with your lawyer and/or during a consular visit.

5.15 Is transfer to the UK a possibility?

There is no Prisoner Transfer Agreement between the UK and Paraguay.

5.16 What are the procedures for release and deportation?

There is a provision of the Paraguayan Immigration Law which states that all foreign detainees can be expelled to their country of origin or residence and once it is fulfilled it means the detainee has finished his sentence completely. A prisoner will be eligible for expulsion once half of his sentence has elapsed.

There are 2 types of procedures involved in an expulsion:

1. The “administrative” one that corresponds to the National Immigration Department who will finalise the expulsion provided the judge has authorised it.
2. The “judicial” procedure which also requires authorisation from the National Immigration Department.

To start the procedure, the prisoner or his public defender can write a letter to the judge stating his wish to be expelled. The judge will evaluate the case regarding previous sentences and will determine the detainee’s nationality, which is done through the relevant consulate. Once the judge has all the information he will ask the defender and prosecutor to give their views on the case.

If a positive decision is taken, the judge will inform the National Immigration Department to start making the arrangements for expulsion. The transfer from Paraguay to the country of origin or residence and all other costs incurred in the trip must be covered by the prisoner.

5.17 Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned overseas. It is the only UK charity providing this service and it is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or on remand. Prisoners Abroad is concerned with your health and welfare, both during your imprisonment and also on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison).

They can also provide support and advice to your family during your imprisonment. In order to access any services, prisoners must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form. Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information.

The type of assistance they can offer will vary from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner and issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
• obtaining magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
• writing to a pen pal
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment
• translation of documents
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and don’t have funds from other sources
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you don’t have funds from other sources
• preparing for release
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and assistance with the cost of visiting

Prisoners Abroad
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Telephone: 00 44 (0)20 7561 6820 or, for your relatives in the UK, Freephone 0808 172 0098 (Mondays to Fridays 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, UK time).

Email: info@prisonersabroad.org.uk.

Website: www.prisonersabroad.org.uk.

6. Glossary of terms

The following is a non-exhaustive list of useful legal term, key phrases and general grammar rules from English into Spanish.

6.1 Basics

English	Spanish
My name is	Me llamo
I am… (E.g. I am English)	Soy…
The	El/La/Los/Las
A	Un/Una/Unos/Unas
It	Lo/la/le
I/We/Me	Yo/Nosotros/Yo
What/Which	Qué/Cuál
Left	Izquierda
Right	Derecha
Here	Aquí
There	Ahí
What day does the…	¿Qué día…?
I cannot…	No puedo…
Hello	Hola
Good afternoon	Buenas tardes
Good evening	Buenas tardes
Good night	Buenas noches
How are you?	¿Cómo estás?
Fine thanks and you?	Bien gracias, ¿y tú?
Excuse me	Perdone
See you later	Hasta luego
Yes	Sí
No	No
Please	Por favor
Thank you	Gracias
I don’t know	No sé
Could you repeat that more slowly?	¿Puedes repetir más despacio?
I don’t understand	No entiendo
I do not speak Spanish very well	No hablo muy bien español
I am sorry to bother you but…	Siento molestarte pero….
May I borrow your…	¿Me prestas tu…?
How can I obtain…?	¿Cómo puedo obtener…?
Is there any mail for me?	¿Hay correo para mí?
How much does this cost?	¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
Do you mind if I open the window?	¿Te importa si abro la ventana?
Do you mind if I smoke?	¿Te importa si fumo?
Could you kindly write that down for me?	¿Podrías escribir eso para mí por favor?
Do you have the correct time?	¿Tienes la hora correcta?
What is your nationality?	¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad?

6.2 Useful phrases/vocabulary

English	Spanish
The telephone is out of order	El teléfono no funciona
I do not have any means to buy…	No me puedo permitir comprar…
I would like to order…	Me gustaría pedir…
This is urgent	Esto es urgente
May I make an appointment to see…	¿Podría fijar una cita con…?
I need to see my lawyer	Necesito ver a mi abogado
Can I have a list of local English-speaking lawyers?	¿Me das una lista de abogados que hablen inglés?
Who is dealing with my case?	¿Quién está a cargo de mi caso?
Does the prison have a list of translators?	¿Hay una lista de traductores en la prisión?
Can I get bail?	¿Puedo pedir la libertad bajo fianza?
Can you tell me how long I will be held in police custody before I get transferred to a prison?	¿Me podrías decir cuánto tiempo estaré detenido antes de ser transferido a una prisión?
What must I do to get transferred to another prison?	¿Qué debo hacer para ser transferido a otra prisión?
Can you tell me how long my sentence is?	¿Me podrías decir cuánto tiempo durará mi sentencia?
Can you tell me the date my sentence finishes?	¿Me podrías decir la fecha en que mi sentencia terminará?
Can I move to Mr…..’s cell as he speaks English?	¿Me puedo cambiar a la celda del Sr…., ya que habla inglés?
Can Mr… move into this cell?	¿Puede el Sr… cambiarse a esta celda?
I am very cold; can I have an extra blanket please?	Tengo mucho frío, ¿me das otra manta por favor?
When is the shop open?	¿Cuándo abre la tienda?
How much money do I have in my account?	¿Cuánto dinero tengo en mi cuenta?
What day does the doctor come? What time?	¿Qué día viene el médico? ¿A qué hora?
Is there any work that I can do?	¿Hay algún trabajo que puedo hacer?
I would like to work in the…	Me gustaría trabajar en el/la….
Can you show me what I must do?	¿Me puedes enseñar lo qué debo hacer?
Could I buy a Spanish/English dictionary?	¿Podría comprar un diccionario de inglés/español?
Can you contact the Consul for me?	¿Puedes contactar al cónsul por mí?
I want to make a complaint	Quiero poner una queja
Can I have permission for my family to send me….?	Me gustaría pedir permiso para que mi familia me envíe…
As I am not allowed visits, could I have a parcel of clothes sent to the prison?	Como no tengo permitido ninguna visita, ¿se me podría enviar un paquete de ropa a la prisión?
Are there any items which they are not permitted to send me?	¿Hay algo que no pueden enviarme?
I want to send this letter to…	Quiero enviar esta carta a…
Why are my letters taking so long to get to my family?	¿Por qué mis cartas tardan tanto en llegar a mi familia?
I have not heard from my family and I am worried about them	No sé nada de mi familia y estoy preocupado/a por ellos
How do I arrange a visit for my family?	¿Qué tengo que hacer para arreglar una visita de mi familia?
Can you confirm that my family has booked a visit for (a specific date)?	¿Podrías confirmar qué día ha reservado mi familia para visitarme?
May I have an extended visit as I do not get many and my family has to travel a long way?	¿Podría pedir una visita más larga ya que no recibo muchas visitas y mi familia tiene que viajar de lejos?
Could I go to the prison school to learn Spanish?	¿Podría ir a las clases de la prisión para aprender español
Could you give this letter to Mr… cell no…. so he can translate it for me?	¿Podrías darle esta carta al Sr…. celda número… para que la traduzca para mí?

6.3 Time/days/numbers

English	Spanish
Today	Hoy
Tomorrow	Mañana
Morning	Mañana
Afternoon	Tarde
Night	Noche
Next week	La próxima semana
Next month	El próximo mes
Next year	El próximo año
Last week	La semana pasada
Last month	El mes pasado
Last year	Fin de semana
Weekend	Lunes
Monday	Martes
Tuesday	Miércoles
Wednesday	Jueves
Thursday	Viernes
Friday	Sábado
Saturday	Domingo
Sunday	Enero
January	Febrero
February	Marzo
March	Abril
April	Mayo
May	Junio
June	Julio
July	Agosto
August	Septiembre
September	Octubre
October	Noviembre
November	Diciembre
December	Enero
Spring	Primavera
Summer	Verano
Autumn	Otoño
Winter	Invierno
Christmas	Navidad
Easter	Semana Santa
New Year	Año Nuevo
National Holiday	Día festivo
One (first)	Uno (primero/a)
Two (second)	Dos (segundo/a)
Three (third)	Tres (tercero/a)
Four (fourth)	Cuatro (cuarto/a)
Five (fifth)	Cinco (quinto/a)
Six (sixth)	Seis (sexto/a)
Seven (seventh)	Siete (séptimo/a)
Eight (eight)	Ocho (octavo/a)
Nine (ninth)	Nueve (noveno/a)
Ten (tenth)	Diez (décimo/a)
Eleven (eleventh)	Once (décimo primero/a)
Twelve (twelfth)	Doce (décimo segundo/a)
Thirteen (thirteenth)	Trece (décimo tercero/a)
Fourteen (fourteenth)	Catorce (décimo cuarto/a)
Fifteen (fifteenth)	Quince (décimo quinto/a)
Sixteen (sixteenth)	Dieciséis (décimo sexto/a)
Seventeen (seventeenth)	Diecisiete (décimo séptimo/a)
Eighteen (eighteenth)	Dieciocho (décimo octavo/a)
Nineteen (nineteenth)	Diecinueve (décimo noveno/a)
Twenty (twentieth)	Veinte (vigésimo/a)
Thirty (thirtieth)	Treinta (trigésimo/a)
Forty (fortieth)	Cuarenta (cuadragésimo/a)
Fifty (fiftieth)	Cincuenta (quincuagésimo/a)
Sixty (sixtieth)	Sesenta (sexagésimo/a)
Seventy (seventieth)	Setenta (septuagésimo/a)
Eighty (eightieth)	Ochenta (octogésimo/a)
Ninety (ninetieth)	Noventa (nonagésimo/a)
Hundred (hundredth)	Cien (centésimo/a)
Thousand (thousandth)	Mil (milésimo/a)

6.4 What time is it? ¿Qué hora es?

English	Spanish
07h 00 Seven o’clock in the morning	Las siete de la mañana
07h 30 Seven thirty in the morning	Las siete y media de la mañana
12h 00 Midday	Las doce del mediodía
13h 00 One o’clock in the afternoon	La una de la tarde
14h 40 Two-forty in the afternoon	Las dos y cuarenta de la tarde
19h 45 Seven-forty-five in the evening	Las siete y cuarenta y cinco de la tarde
00h 00 Midnight	Las doce de la noche (medianoche)

6.5 General vocabulary

English	Spanish
Cell	Celda
Bed	Cama
Individual cell	Celda individual
Shared cell	Celda compartida
Library	Biblioteca
Showers	Duchas
Toilet	Cuarto de baño
Visiting rooms	Salas de visita
Garden	Jardín
Reception	Recepción
Director	Director
Assistant Director	Ayudante del director
Shopkeeper	Tendero/a
Guard/Warder	Guardia/Vigilante

6.6 Stationery

English	Spanish
Books	Libros
Pen	Bolígrafo
Paper	Papel
Letter	Carta
Envelope	Sobre
Stamp	Sello
Telephone	Teléfono

6.7 Toiletries

English	Spanish
Soap	Jabón
Shampoo	Champú
Toothbrush	Cepillo de dientes
Toothpaste	Pasta de dientes
Deodorant	Desodorante
Tissues	Pañuelos de papel
Toilet Paper	Papel higiénico
Wash	Lavar
Razor	Navaja
Shave	Afeitar
Towel	Toalla

6.8 Other items

English	Spanish
Shop/Canteen	Tienda/Cantina
Blanket	Manta
Radio	Radio
CD/cassette player	Lector de CDs/Radio-cassette
Playing cards	Una baraja
Ball	Pelota
Battery	Pila/Batería

6.9 Clothing

English	Spanish
Shirt	Camisa
Shorts	Pantalones cortos
Shoes	Zapatos
Socks	Calcetines
Underwear	Ropa interior
Trousers	Pantalones
T-shirt	Camiseta
Trainers	Zapatillas de deporte
Jumper/pullover	Jersey
Jeans	Vaqueros
Vest	Camiseta de tiras
Sandals	Sandalias
Small	Pequeño/a
Medium	Mediano/a
Large	Grande

6.10 Proper nouns

English	Spanish
British Consul	Cónsul británico/a
Britain	Gran Bretaña
British	Británico/a
England	Inglaterra
Scotland	Escocia
Wales	Gales
Northern Ireland	Irlanda del Norte

6.11 Family

English	Spanish
Friend	Amigo/a
Family	Familia
Mother	Madre
Father	Padre
Sister	Hermana
Brother	Hermano
Husband	Marido
Wife	Mujer
Partner	Pareja
Daughter	Hija
Son	Hijo
Child	Niño/a
Cousin	Primo/a

6.12 Food/meals

English	Spanish
Breakfast	Desayuno
Lunch	Comida
Dinner	Cena
To eat	Comer
To drink	Beber
Knife	Cuchillo
Fork	Tenedor
Spoon	Cuchara
Tray	Bandeja
Glass	Vaso
Cup/Mug	Taza
Plate	Plato
Bottle	Botella
Coffee	Café
Tea	Té
Water	Agua
Milk	Leche
Powdered milk	Leche en polvo
Soda	Soda
Hot chocolate	Chocolate caliente
Fresh fruit	Fruta fresca
Apple	Manzana
Orange	Naranja
Banana	Plátano
Pear	Pera
Meat	Carne
Lamb	Cordero
Beef	Carne de vaca
Pork	Cerdo
Ham	Jamón
Bacon	Panceta/Beicon
Chicken	Pollo
Fish	Pescado
Tuna	Atún
Cod	Bacalao
Sea food	Marisco
Vegetables	Verduras
Cabbage	Repollo
Carrot	Zanahoria
Mushroom	Champiñón
Spinach	Espinaca
Green beans	Judías verdes
Peas	Guisantes
Potato	Patata
Peppers	Pimientos
Onion	Cebolla
Lettuce	Lechuga
Bread	Pan
Rice	Arroz
Pasta	Pasta
Butter	Mantequilla
Jam/preserve	Mermelada
Eggs	Huevos
Cheese	Queso
Oil	Aceite
Salt	Sal
Sugar	Azúcar
Yoghurt	Yogur
Biscuits	Galletas
Cereal	Cereales
Chocolate	Chocolate

6.13 Body/health

English	Spanish
I need to see the Doctor	Necesito ver a un médico
I require medical assistance for the following reasons…	Necesito ayuda médica por las siguientes razones…
It is urgent	Es urgente
I don’t feel very well	No me siento muy bien
I am bleeding	Estoy sangrando
I have a pain in my…	Me duele el/la…
Mild pain	Dolor moderado
Severe pain	Dolor fuerte
I have a cold/flu	Tengo un resfriado/gripe
I have a sore throat	Me duele la garganta
I have a fever	Tengo fiebre
I am allergic to…	Soy alérgico a…
I am having problems breathing	Tengo problemas al respirar
I have a cold	Tengo catarro
I have an upset stomach	Me duele el estómago
I am constipated	Estoy estreñido/a
I have diarrhoea	Tengo diarrea
I have spots	Tengo granos
I have a rash	Tengo un sarpullido
I am diabetic	Soy diabético/a
I am epileptic	Tengo epilepsia
I have heart problems	Tengo problemas del corazón
I have ear ache	Me duele el oído
I have a headache	Me duele la cabeza
I have cramps	Tengo calambres
I have problems with my eyes	Tengo problemas en los ojos
I need to have my eyes tested	Necesito que me examinen los ojos
I am pregnant	Estoy embarazada
I have high/low blood pressure	Tengo la tensión alta/baja
I have high cholesterol	Tengo el colesterol alto
Have you something for…	¿Tienes algo para…?
Do you have a bandage?	¿Tienes una venda?
Do you have a plaster?	¿Tienes una tirita?

6.14 Phrases which may be used by the doctor

English	Spanish
Where does it hurt?	¿Dónde te duele?
Do you have a temperature?	¿Tienes fiebre?
Do you have any allergies?	¿Tienes alguna alergia?
Do you suffer from any other illnesses?	¿Tienes alguna otra enfermedad?
What medication do you take normally?	¿Tomas algún tipo de medicación?
Are you receiving medical treatment at the moment?	¿Estás recibiendo tratamiento médico en estos momentos?
What type?	¿De qué tipo?
Since when?	¿Desde cuándo?
Is this the first time you have had this problem?	¿Es ésta la primera vez que tienes este problema?
Do you have a cold?	¿Tienes catarro?
What colour is the phlegm?	¿De qué color es la flema?
Are you a drug addict?	¿Tienes adicción a alguna droga?
How much do you weigh?	¿Cuánto pesas?
Step onto the scales please?	Súbete a las pesas por favor
Please lie on the bed	Acuéstate en la camilla/cama por favor
Please take off your shirt	Sácate la camisa por favor
This is a prescription for…	Ésta es una receta para…
You must take this medication…	Debes tomarte esta medicina…
…before you go to bed	…antes de irte a la cama
…three times a day	…tres veces al día
…in the morning and at night	…por la mañana y por la noche

6.15 Dental terms

English	Spanish
I need to see the dentist	Necesito ver al dentista
I have toothache	Me duele una muela/un diente
I have broken a tooth	Tengo una muela/diente rota/o
A filling	Un empaste
Tooth decay	Caries
A tooth	Un diente (front)/Una muela (back)
A wisdom tooth	La muela del juicio

6.16 Prescribed drugs/treatment

English	Spanish
Painkiller	Analgésico
Antibiotics	Antibiótico
Analgesics	Analgésico
Aspirin	Aspirina
Lice treatment	Tratamiento para piojos
Inhaler	Inhalador
Tablet/Pill	Pastilla/Píldora
Capsule	Cápsula
Cream	Crema
Injection	Inyección
Vaccine	Vacuna
Bandage	Venda
Sleeping tablet	Pastillas para dormir
Tranquiliser	Tranquilizante
Laxative	Laxante
Antiseptic	Antiséptico

6.17 Human body

English	Spanish
The head	La cabeza
The skull	El Cráneo
Hair	Pelo
Face	Cara
Eye/eyes	Ojo/ojos
Nose	Nariz
Mouth	Boca
Lips	Labios
Tongue	Lengua
Ear	Oreja (external)/Oído(internal)
Neck	Cuello
Anus	Ano
Penis	Pene
Testicles	Testículos
Vagina	Vagina
Leg	Pierna
Knee	Rodilla
Throat	Garganta
Shoulder	Hombro
Chest	Pecho
Breasts (female)	Pechos
Stomach	Estómago
Back	Espalda
Arms	Brazos
Elbow	Codo
Hand	Mano
Finger	Dedo
Thumb	Dedo pulgar
Hip	Cadera
Ankle	Tobillo
Foot	Pie
Heel	Talón
Toe	Dedo del pie
Limb	Extremidad
Muscle	Músculo
Bone	Hueso
Spinal column	Columna Vertebral
Rib	Costilla
Skin	Piel
Heart	Corazón
Lungs	Pulmones
Liver	Hígado
Kidneys	Riñones
Bladder	Vejiga
Breathing	Respirar
Blood	Sangre

6.18 Health problems

English	Spanish
An illness	Una enfermedad
A pain	Un dolor
An injury/wound	Una herida
An infection	Una infección
Abscess	Absceso
Angina	Angina de pecho
Appendicitis	Apendicitis
Arthritis	Artritis
Asthma	Asma
A bite (insect)	Una picadura
Bronchitis	Bronquitis
Cancer	Cáncer
Concussion	Conmoción cerebral
An insect sting	Una picadura de insecto
Sun stroke	Insolación
Tuberculosis	Tuberculosis
Typhoid	Fiebre tifoidea
Ulcer	Úlcera
A wart	Una verruga
Cough	Catarro
Cyst	Quiste
Diabetes	Diabetes
An epileptic fit	Un ataque epiléptico
Fever	Fiebre
Fracture	Fractura
A hernia	Una hernia
HIV/AIDS	Virus del SIDA
Liver attack	Ataque hepático/del hígado
Leukaemia	Leucemia
Malaria	Malaria
Migraine	Migraña
Depression	Depresión
Pneumonia	Pulmonía
Rheumatism	Reumatismo
A scar	Una cicatriz
A scratch	Un arañazo
Sprain	Esguince

6.19 General rules

In Spanish all nouns have a gender, either masculine or feminine (for example, the word for ‘house’ (casa) is a feminine noun so ‘a house’/’the house’ is translated as ‘una casa’/’la casa’. The word for ‘book’ (libro) is a masculine noun so ‘a book’/’the book’ is translated as ‘un libro’/’el libro’).

The gender of the word will affect adjectives which refer to that word. For example, if you want to say ‘the red house’ you would say ‘la casa roja’. If you wanted to say ‘a red book’ you would say ‘un libro rojo’.

Where appropriate, the gender of each form of the word has been given below: masculine forms of the word are denoted by ‘(m)’, feminine by ‘(f)’. The plural form of the word (i.e when there is more than one of the object concerned) is denoted by ‘pl’. So, ‘these houses’ would appear as ‘estas casas (fpl)’ and ‘those books’ would appear as ‘esos libros (mpl)’.

Accents may appear above certain vowels, helping pronunciation by indicating where the stress should be placed in that particular word (e.g. prisión, miércoles, teléfono). In the absence of accents, words ending in either a vowel or …n / …s will have stress placed on the penultimate syllable (e.g. nosotros, transferido, urgente). If the word ends in a consonant other than …n / …s, the last syllable is stressed (e.g. necesitar, enfermedad, espanol)

To have	Tener
I have	yo tengo
you (singular) have	tú tienes
he/she has	él/ella tiene
we have	nosotros/as tenemos
you (plural) have	vosotros/as tenéis
they have	ellos/as tienen

(In Spanish, there are two verbs which translate as ‘to be’: ‘ser’ and ‘estar’. ‘Ser’ is meant to convey something permanent (e.g. ‘I am English’, ‘I am a man’), and ‘estar’ is meant to convey something more temporary like a mood or emotion (e.g. ‘I am ill’, or ‘I am happy’).

To be	Ser
I am	yo soy
you (singular) are	tú eres
he/she is	él/ella es
we are	nosotros/as somos
you (plural) are	vosotros/as sois
they are	ellos/as son

To be	Estar
To be	Estar
I am	estoy
you (singular) are	tú estás
he/she is	él/ella está
we are	nosotros/as estamos
you (plural) are	vosotros/as estáis
they are	ellos/as están

English	Spanish
To want/I want	Querer/yo quiero
To need/I need	Necesitar/yo necesito
To feel/I feel	Sentir/yo siento
To have to/I have to	Tener que/yo tengo que
To see/I see	Ver/yo veo
To use/I use	Usar/yo uso
To speak/I speak	Hablar/yo hablo
To write/I write	Escribir/yo escribo
To go/I go	Ir/yo voy
To be able to	Poder/yo puedo
To give	Dar/yo doy

Prepositions

English	Spanish
After	Después
Before	Antes
During	Durante
Since	Desde
Until	Hasta
In/inside	en/dentro
Outside	Fuera
At	en
From	De/desde
On	en/encima
Under/below/beneath	Debajo
Above	Encima
Over	por encima de
Beside/next to/by	al lado de
Near to	cerca de
Through	a través
Towards	hacia
Behind	detrás
Between	entre
Opposite	en frente
With	con
Without	sin

7. Annexes

7.1 Annex 1: Options to transfer funds to British Nationals Overseas via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Please note: we can only advance funds to the person overseas, once your payment has cleared in our account.

Electronic bank transfers

Payment by electronic/internet bank transfer can be made either using online or telephone banking, or at your local bank or building society.

For all bank transfers, you will need to include the following details:

Bank:	National Westminster Bank
Account Name:	FCDO Multi Vote
Sort Code:	60-70-80
Account Number:	10012362
Reference:	FCDO case reference number (which you should obtain from the Consular Officer), surname and first name of the person you are sending the funds for, plus country name if possible, e.g. 11-THB-123456 SMITH JOE - THAILAND or CON-1234 SMITH JOE – THAILAND
IBAN	GB56NWBK60708010012362
SWIFT/BIC	NWBKGB2L

You may also need our bank address which is:

London Corporate Service Centre
CPB Services, 2nd Floor
280 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 4RB

By post

Payments by Postal Order, Bankers Draft or Building Society or personal cheque should be crossed and make payable to “The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office”. They should be sent to:

Accounts Receivable
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
PO Box 6108
Milton Keynes
MK10 1PX

We recommend that you use Special Delivery.

Please ensure that you include a note briefly explaining who the money is for, why you are sending these funds and quoting the FCDO case reference number. You may wish to use the payment slip detailed in the table below. If you would like a receipt, please include a stamped addressed envelope.

Please note that it can take approximately 15 days for personal cheques to clear and for payment to be received. Please write the cheque guarantee number and expiry date, and the FCDO case reference number, on the back of the cheque.

We are unable to receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.

To:	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
FCDO case reference number:
Date:
Please find enclosed funds for:
Full Name:
Country/place the above is in:
Amount enclosed:
Fee to be deducted:
Payment method:
My name is:
My address is:

7.2 Other annexes

• Annex 2: List of English-Speaking Lawyers in Paraguay

• Annex 3: Private Translators/Interpreters in Paraguay

• Annex 4: Arrested abroad: FCDO advice for British nationals

• Annex 4: Prisoners Abroad authorisation form

• Annex 5: Prisoners Abroad family contact form

• Annex 6: Prisoners Abroad CFF form

• Annex 7: Prisoners Abroad

• Anne 8: Fair Trials International questionnaire and leaflets

8. Disclaimer

This guide was compiled by the British Embassy Asunción. It is revised on a regular basis.

If any of the information contained in this booklet is incorrect, please draw inaccuracies to our attention so that we can make amendments.

The British Embassy in Paraguay is not accountable for the information provided in this booklet. Local proceedings are subject to change at any time.