Report to the Hungarian Government on the Visit to Hungary Carried Out
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CPT/Inf (2006) 20 Report to the Hungarian Government on the visit to Hungary carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 30 March to 8 April 2005 The Hungarian Government has requested the publication of this report and of its response. The Government's response is set out in document CPT/Inf (2006) 21. Strasbourg, 29 June 2006 - 2 - CONTENTS Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report............................................................................4 I. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................5 A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation ..............................................................5 B. Establishments visited...............................................................................................................6 C. Consultations held by the delegation and co-operation encountered...................................6 D. Immediate observation under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention...........................7 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED ................................8 A. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior ....................................8 1. Preliminary remarks ..........................................................................................................8 2. Ill-treatment .......................................................................................................................9 3. Safeguards against ill-treatment of persons detained by the police.................................13 4. Conditions of detention in police establishments ............................................................16 5. Border Guard establishments...........................................................................................19 a. conditions of detention in the holding facilities for aliens.....................................19 b. health care ..............................................................................................................20 c. staff.........................................................................................................................20 d. information to detainees and contact with the outside world.................................21 e. means of restraint and discipline............................................................................22 f. other Border Guard establishments........................................................................23 B. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Justice ..........................................24 1. Preliminary remarks .......................................................................................................24 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................24 3. Prisoners placed under a special security regime ............................................................26 4. Conditions of detention in the prisons visited .................................................................31 a. follow-up visit to Unit III of Budapest Remand Prison .........................................31 b. Kalocsa Prison........................................................................................................32 i. material conditions .......................................................................................32 ii. regime of activities........................................................................................34 iii. the therapeutic-educational unit and the drug-free cell ...............................35 - 3 - c. Szeged Prison .........................................................................................................36 i. material conditions .......................................................................................36 ii. programme of activities ................................................................................38 5. Health-care services in the prisons visited ......................................................................40 6. Other issues of relevance to the CPT's mandate..............................................................42 a. prison staff..............................................................................................................42 b. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................43 c. discipline and segregation ......................................................................................44 d. complaints and inspection procedures ...................................................................45 e. police officers carrying out investigative activities inside prisons ........................46 f. security arrangements.............................................................................................47 7. Judicial and Observation Psychiatric Institute (IMEI) ....................................................48 a. introduction ............................................................................................................48 b. ill-treatment ............................................................................................................49 c. patients’ living conditions ......................................................................................49 d. treatment and activities ..........................................................................................51 e. staff.........................................................................................................................52 f. means of restraint and seclusion ............................................................................52 g. safeguards...............................................................................................................53 C. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Youth, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities ........................................................................................................56 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................56 2. Living conditions.............................................................................................................57 3. Staff and care of residents ...............................................................................................58 4. Means of restraint ............................................................................................................59 5. Safeguards .......................................................................................................................59 III. RECAPITULATION AND CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................61 APPENDIX I: LIST OF THE CPT'S RECOMMENDATIONS, COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ...........................................................................................................67 APPENDIX II: LIST OF THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH THE CPT'S DELEGATION HELD CONSULTATIONS ................................................................................................................80 - 4 - Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report Strasbourg, 3 August 2005 Dear Mr Vókó, 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 the report to the Government of Hungary drawn up by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) following its visit to Hungary from 30 March to 8 April 2005. The report was adopted by the CPT at its 57th meeting, held from 4 to 8 July 2005. I would draw your attention in particular to paragraph 197 of the report, in which the CPT requests the Hungarian authorities to provide within six months a response setting out the action taken upon its visit report. The CPT would ask, in the event of the response being forwarded in Hungarian, that it be accompanied by an English or French translation. It would be most helpful if the Hungarian authorities could provide a copy of the response in electronic form. I am at your entire disposal if you have any questions concerning either the CPT’s report or the future procedure. Yours sincerely, Silvia CASALE President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Mr György VÓKÓ General Director Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Hungary Markó utca 16 P.O. Box 438 H –1372 BUDAPEST Hungary - 5 - 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 visited Hungary from 30 March to 8 April 2005. The visit formed part of the Committee’s programme of periodic visits for 2005 and was the fourth visit to Hungary to be carried out by the CPT.1 2. The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT: - Renate KICKER, Head of delegation - Ingrid LYCKE ELLINGSEN - Esteban MESTRE DELGADO - Vladimir ORTAKOV - Tatiana RĂDUCANU.