News Flash
Strasbourg, 13.02.2008 - The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention
of Torture (CPT) has published today the report
on its sixth visit to "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" in May 2006 ,
together with the authorities’ response. Both
documents have been made public at the request of the Government.
A considerable number of persons - including juveniles – interviewed during the
visit alleged that they had been ill-treated by law enforcement officials;
in particular, there were repeated allegations concerning officers from the
Special Mobile Police Units (known as “Alfa”). The findings highlighted, once
again, the necessity for the authorities to deliver a clear message that the
ill-treatment of detained persons is illegal and will be dealt with severely.
Further, the Committee made several recommendations aimed at strengthening the
safeguards in place against ill-treatment and at improving the effectiveness of
police complaints procedures.
As concerns prison establishments, the report states that credible
allegations were received of ill-treatment by staff at Idrizovo and Skopje
Prisons. The CPT recommended that a clear message be delivered to staff in these
prisons that physical ill-treatment of inmates is not acceptable and will be
dealt with severely. It also recommended that concrete measures to eradicate
such ill-treatment be taken, including through improved management and
supervisory mechanisms. Further, the CPT recommended that the authorities put an
end to the use of chains to restrain vulnerable inmates at Skopje Prison.
More generally, the CPT’s findings highlight poor management and supervision in
prisons, inadequate staffing levels and a lack of appropriate training for
staff. The CPT recommended that a thorough review of the prison health-care
services be undertaken, including as regards the treatment of prisoners with
mental health problems. As regards material conditions, the CPT found that they
were very poor in certain of the accommodation units in Idrizovo Prison, and the
Committee recommended that urgent measures be taken to render this prison safe
and hygienic. Further recommendations were made by the Committee aimed at
ensuring acceptable material conditions in all prisons. The findings prompted
the CPT to recommend that the Ministry of Justice produce a comprehensive
strategic plan for the recovery of the prison system, including as regards the
urgent need to re-locate the Educational-Correctional Institution.
The CPT noted the important reforms underway in the area of mental health, in
particular through the de-institutionalisation of psychiatry and efforts to
support psychiatric care in the communuity. However, with respect to Demir Hisar
Psychiatric Hospital, the CPT received numerous allegations of ill-treatment of
patients by staff and recommended the authorities take appropriate measures to
put an end to ill-treatment at the hospital. Further, the CPT stressed that the
chaining of patients to their beds was totally unacceptable, recommending that
all chains be removed from the hospital and that appropriate procedures and
safeguards be adopted vis-à-vis patients who have to be physically restrained.
It also made recommendations concerning low staffing levels, poor material
conditions and safeguards governing the placement of patients in hospital.
At Demir Kapija Special Institution for mentally disabled persons, the
CPT noted a number of structural improvements since the previous visit in 2002.
However, concerns remain with regard in particular to inter-resident violence
and staffing levels.
In their response, the national authorities draw attention to
instructions submitted to all police stations regarding the treatment of
detained persons and the safeguards they should be granted. Information is also
given about the plans for upgrading and expanding the prison estate. Regarding
psychiatric establishments, the Government refers to the newly adopted Mental
Health Law and provides detailed information on the measures taken to improve
material conditions, increase staffing levels and ensuring better supervision at
Demir Hisar Psychiatric Hospital. Confirmation is provided that chains are no
longer used in psychiatric hospitals. The national authorities also provide
information about the measures taken at Demir Kapija institution to reduce
incidents of violence and improve staffing levels.
The CPT’s report and the
response of the national authorities to the
May 2006 visit report are available on the CPT's website
http://www.cpt.coe.int
____________________
A
further ad hoc visit to "the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"
was carried out in October 2007.
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please access our page "For the press".
