[prisoner-rights] Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee publishes report on Croatia

Strasbourg, 01.03.2007 -- The Council of Europe's Committee for the
prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
(CPT) has published today its report on the 2nd periodic visit to Croatia
in 2003, together with the authorities’ response. These documents
have been made public at the request of the Croatian Government.

In the course of the 2003 visit, the CPT found that, although the number
of allegations of ill-treatment of persons in police custody was lower
than during the first periodic visit in 1998, police ill-treatment
continued to represent a problem. In its report, the Committee recommended
that a high priority be given to police training and that the fundamental
safeguards against ill-treatment (in particular, the rights of
notification of custody, access to a lawyer and access to a doctor) be
considerably strengthened.

The allegations received during the 2003 visit of physical ill-treatment
of prisoners by staff at Osijek and Split County Prisons and Lepoglava
State Prison represented a disturbing departure from the generally
favourable situation found in 1998. The CPT recommended that the
authorities deliver the clear message to prison officers throughout the
country that all forms of ill-treatment are not acceptable and will be the
subject of severe sanctions.

The report also contains recommendations aimed at combating prison
overcrowding, enhancing the provision of activities to inmates, improving
the health care provision and increasing prison staffing levels.

Hardly any allegations of ill-treatment of patients by staff were received
at Vrapce Psychiatric Hospital, and none at Nustar Social Care Home.
Material conditions at these establishments were generally satisfactory,
with the exception of the forensic psychiatric and male chronic units at
Vrapce Psychiatric Hospital. As regards treatment, the CPT recommended an
increase in the range of therapeutic, rehabilitative and recreational
activities; this will require more qualified staff.

In their response, the Croatian authorities provide information on the
measures being taken to address the concerns raised in the CPT's report.

The CPT's visit report and the response of the Croatian authorities are
available on the Committee's website (http://www.cpt.coe.int).