Press Release
Council of Europe anti-torture Committee publishes report on
Ukraine
Strasbourg, 23.11.2011 – The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of
Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published
today the report on its periodic visit to
Ukraine in September 2009, together with the
response of the Ukrainian Government. Both documents have been made public
with the agreement of the Ukrainian authorities.
In its report, the CPT notes an improvement of material conditions of detention
in law enforcement establishments and of the conditions in which immigration
detainees are held, as well as the stepping up of efforts aimed at the social
rehabilitation of prisoners and their preparation for release. However, the
Committee expresses concern that little progress has been made in many other
areas. This relates in particular to the treatment of persons detained by law
enforcement agencies (a substantial number of allegations of police
ill-treatment were heard during the visit), the situation in pre-trial
establishments (notably at Kyiv SIZO, where very poor material conditions were
observed) and the conditions under which life-sentenced prisoners serve their
sentences (impoverished regime of activities, excessive security arrangements,
severe restrictions on contact with the outside world, etc.). The CPT makes a
series of recommendations aimed at addressing these problems. The report also
highlights the situation at Colony No. 89 in Dnipropetrovsk, where the
delegation received numerous, consistent allegations of physical ill-treatment
of inmates by staff.
In their response, the Ukrainian authorities provide information on steps taken
or envisaged to implement the CPT’s recommendations. Particular reference is
made to action taken against law enforcement officials in case of professional
misconduct and to measures aimed at combating overcrowding in pre-trial
establishments.
The CPT's
report
and the
response of the Ukrainian
Government are available in English (and in
Ukrainian for the response) on the Committee's
website
http://www.cpt.coe.int
- A "CPT Video-kit" is available for the audiovisual press. For more details
please access our page "For the press".
