[prisoner-rights] Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee visits Serbia and Montenegro

05.10.04 - A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(CPT) recently carried out a two week visit to Serbia and Montenegro. This
visit, which began on 16 September 2004, was the first time that the CPT
examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in Serbia and
Montenegro. The CPT's delegation visited a variety of establishments,
including prisons (civil and military), police stations, a centre for
foreigners, and psychiatric hospitals.

The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:

- Mauro PALMA, (Head of Delegation) (Italian)
- Renate KICKER (Austrian)
- Ann-Marie ORLER (Swedish).

They were supported by Fabrice KELLENS, Head of Unit, and Edo KORLJAN, of
the CPT's Secretariat, and assisted by four experts, Dan DERMENGIU, doctor,
Head of Forensic Medicine Department, Medical Faculty "Carol Davila",
Bucharest, Romania, Zdenek HÁJEK, lawyer, Czech Republic, Pétur HAUKSSON,
psychiatrist, Head of the psychiatric department at Reykjalundur
Rehabilitation Centre, Iceland, and Clive MEUX, consultant forensic
psychiatrist, Oxford, United Kingdom.

In the course of the visit, the CPT's delegation held consultations with
the competent ministerial authorities, at the State Union level and at the
level of the two Republics. It also met senior officials responsible for
police establishments, prisons and psychiatric hospitals.

The delegation visited the following places:

Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Defence of Serbia and
Montenegro
- Penal and Correctional Military Prison, Niš
- Military barracks, "Bubanjski heroji", Niš
- Military barracks "Pantelej", Niš

Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia
- 29 November Street Police Station, Belgrade
- Palilula Police Station, Belgrade
- Vocdovac Police Station, Belgrade
- Vracar Police Station, Belgrade
- Zvezdara Police Station, Belgrade
- Reception Centre for Foreigners, Padinska Skela, Belgrade
- Police Station, Bujanovac
- Central Police Station, Niš
- Police Station, Preševo

Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior of
Montenegro
- Podgorica Police Department
- Bar Police Department
- Budva Police Station

Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Justice of Serbia
- Belgrade District Prison
- Sremska Mitrovica Penitentiary Reformatory
- Correctional Penal Facility "Prison Hospital", Belgrade
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro
- Spuc Correctional Facility

Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Health of Serbia
- "Laza Lazarevic" Psychiatric Hospital
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Health of Montenegro
- Special Psychiatric Hospital Dobrota, Kotor
The delegation also carried out a short visit to Spuc Remand Prison
(Montenegro), where it concentrated on the Female Section and the
disciplinary/isolation cells.