Report to the Government of the Slovak Republic on the Visit to the Slovak Republic Carried out by the European Committee
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CPT/Inf (2010) 1 Report to the Government of the Slovak Republic on the visit to the Slovak Republic carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 24 March to 2 April 2009 The Government of the Slovak Republic has requested the publication of this report and of its response. The Government's response is set out in document CPT/Inf (2010) 2. Strasbourg, 11 February 2010 - 3 - CONTENTS Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report ........................................................................... 5 I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................7 A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation ............................................................. 7 B. Establishments visited.............................................................................................................. 8 C. Consultations held by the delegation ...................................................................................... 9 D. Cooperation between the CPT and the authorities of the Slovak Republic........................ 9 E. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention ...................... 10 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED.............................. 11 A. Police........................................................................................................................................ 11 1. Preliminary remarks........................................................................................................ 11 2. Ill-treatment..................................................................................................................... 12 3. Conditions of detention................................................................................................... 17 4. Safeguards against ill-treatment...................................................................................... 18 a. access to a lawyer .................................................................................................. 18 b. access to a doctor................................................................................................... 18 c. notification of custody........................................................................................... 19 d. information on rights ............................................................................................. 19 e. custody records...................................................................................................... 20 5. Foreign nationals detained under aliens legislation ........................................................ 21 a. introduction............................................................................................................ 21 b. detention centres for foreigners ............................................................................. 21 c. safeguards .............................................................................................................. 23 B. Prisons ..................................................................................................................................... 25 1. Preliminary remarks........................................................................................................ 25 2. Legal framework .............................................................................................................27 3. Ill-treatment..................................................................................................................... 28 - 4 - 4. Life-sentenced prisoners................................................................................................. 31 a. introduction............................................................................................................ 31 b. material conditions................................................................................................ 33 c. regime .................................................................................................................... 33 d. use of handcuffs..................................................................................................... 37 5. Leopoldov Prison High Security Department................................................................. 37 a. introduction............................................................................................................ 37 b. the High Security Department at Leopoldov Prison.............................................. 38 6. Conditions of detention for other categories of inmates ................................................. 40 a. material conditions................................................................................................ 40 b. regime .................................................................................................................... 43 7. Health-care services........................................................................................................ 45 a. somatic care........................................................................................................... 45 b. psychiatric care...................................................................................................... 48 i. in general ..................................................................................................... 48 ii. the psychiatric ward at Trenčin Prison Hospital......................................... 49 iii. safeguards in the context of involuntary placement..................................... 51 c. health-care related costs......................................................................................... 52 8. Treatment of sex offenders.............................................................................................. 52 a. introduction............................................................................................................ 52 b. treatment ................................................................................................................ 53 i. in general ..................................................................................................... 53 ii. anti-androgen treatment............................................................................... 54 9. Other issues..................................................................................................................... 57 a. staff ........................................................................................................................ 57 b. discipline................................................................................................................ 57 c. contact with the outside world............................................................................... 58 APPENDIX I: LIST OF THE CPT’S RECOMMENDATIONS, COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION........................................................................... 59 APPENDIX II: LIST OF THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH THE CPT'S DELEGATION HELD CONSULTATIONS ..................... 71 - 5 - Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report Mr Emil Kuchár Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the Council of Europe 1 rue Ehrmann 67000 Strasbourg Strasbourg, 27 July 2009 Dear Ambassador In pursuance of Article 10, paragraph 1, of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, I enclose herewith a report to the Government of the Slovak Republic drawn up by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) following its visit to the Slovak Republic from 24 March to 2 April 2009. The report was adopted by the CPT at its 69th meeting, held from 6 to 10 July 2009. The various recommendations, comments and requests for information formulated by the CPT are listed in Appendix I of the report. As regards more particularly the CPT’s recommendations, having regard to Article 10 of the Convention, the Committee requests the Slovak Republic authorities to provide within six months a response giving a full account of action taken to implement them. The CPT trusts that it will also be possible for the Slovak Republic authorities to provide, in the above-mentioned response, reactions to the comments and requests for information formulated in this report, which are also summarised in Appendix I. As regards the recommendation made in paragraph 76 and the information requested in paragraph 85, the Committee requests a response within two months. It would be most helpful if a copy of the response could be provided in a computer-readable form. I am at your entire disposal if you have any questions concerning either the CPT’s report or the future procedure. Yours faithfully Mauro Palma President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - 7 - I. INTRODUCTION A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation 1. In pursuance of Article 7 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”), a delegation of the CPT carried out a visit to the Slovak Republic from 24 March to 2 April 2009. The visit formed part of the Committee’s