A human rights advocate in Vanuatu says many local people live in far worse accomodation than that experienced by prisoners at the country's two main prisons.
This comes after Transparency International Vanuatu and the Ombudsman's offices received a report apparently compiled by inmates at Port Vila Prison.
It detailed poor living conditions and violence, and includes a demand that they be released.
It has long been recognised that the prisons are low quality and there are plans for them to be replaced.
But Heather Leo, a human rights advocate, says prisoners are living in colonial-era buildings in conditions that are superior to many in Port Vila.
"When you talk about conditions in prison you have to assess that against the condition of living of 80 percent of the people of Vanuatu. And if the prisoners are from (Port) Vila they live in slum areas and the slum areas are worst than the prison houses themselves, there's no proper water (and) no proper toilet."
