CPT/Inf (2012) 17 Report to the Government of Serbia on the visit to Serbia carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 1 to 11 February 2011 The Government of Serbia has requested the publication of this report and of its response. The Government’s response is set out in document CPT/Inf (2012) 18. Strasbourg, 14 June 2012 - 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 received .........................................7 D. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention establishing the CPT ......................................................................................................................................8 E. National Preventive Mechanism ..............................................................................................8 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED ..............................10 A. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Interior.........................................10 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................10 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................11 3. Safeguards against the ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty........................13 4. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................16 B. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Justice ..........................................19 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................19 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................21 3. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................23 a. material conditions of detention.............................................................................23 i. follow-up visit to Belgrade District Prison ..................................................23 ii. follow-up visit to Požarevac- Zabela Correctional Institution ....................25 iii. Požarevac Correctional Institution for Women ...........................................27 b activities .................................................................................................................28 c. classification of prisoners.......................................................................................30 4. Special Department of Požarevac-Zabela Correctional Institution .................................30 5. Health-care services in the prisons visited ......................................................................32 6. Follow-up visit to the Special Prison Hospital in Belgrade.............................................37 - 3 - 7. Other issues of relevance for the CPT's mandate ............................................................41 a. prison staff..............................................................................................................41 b. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................42 c. discipline/solitary confinement ..............................................................................44 d. "coercive means"....................................................................................................45 e. complaints and inspection procedures ...................................................................45 C. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Health...........................................47 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................47 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................48 3. Patients' living conditions................................................................................................49 4. Treatment and regime......................................................................................................50 5. Staff .................................................................................................................................52 6. Means of restraint ............................................................................................................53 7. Safeguards .......................................................................................................................56 D. Juvenile Educational Institution in Niš.................................................................................61 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................61 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................62 3. Living conditions.............................................................................................................62 4. Treatment and activities...................................................................................................63 5. Staff .................................................................................................................................64 6. Health care.......................................................................................................................64 7. Other issues......................................................................................................................65 APPENDIX I List of the CPT’s recommendations, comments and requests for information ................66 APPENDIX II List of the national authorities and organisatons met by the CPT’s delegation ...............88 APPENDIX III Paragraphs 89, 91, 94, 95 and 134 to 145 of the report on the CPT’s periodic visit to serbia in 2007 (CPT/Inf (2009) 1) ......................................90 - 4 - Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT's report Ms Dragana Filipović Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Serbia to the Council of Europe 26, avenue de la Forêt Noire 67000 STRASBOURG Strasbourg, 27 July 2011 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 the report to the Serbian Government drawn up by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) after its visit to Serbia from 1 to 11 February 2011. The report was adopted by the CPT at its 75th meeting, held from 4 to 8 July 2011. The various recommendations, comments and requests for information formulated by the CPT are listed in Appendix I. As regards more particularly the CPT’s recommendations, having regard to Article 10 of the Convention, the Committee requests the Serbian 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 Serbian authorities to provide, in the above-mentioned response, reactions to the comments formulated in this report as well as replies to the requests for information made. As regards the request for information and recommendation in paragraphs 14 and 39 respectively, the Committee requests that a response be provided within three months. The CPT would ask, in the event of the responses being forwarded in the Serbian language, that they be accompanied by an English or French translation. I am at your entire disposal if you have any questions concerning either the CPT's visit report or the future procedure. Yours faithfully, Lətif Hüseynov President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - 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 Serbia from 1 to 11 February 2011. The visit formed part of the Committee’s programme of periodic visits for 2011, and was the third visit to Serbia to be carried out by the CPT1. 2. The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT: - Pétur HAUKSSON, 1st vice-President of the CPT (Head of delegation) - Haritini DIPLA, 2nd vice-President of the CPT - Marzena KSEL - Jim McMANUS - Jørgen Worsaae RASMUSSEN - Antonius VAN KALMTHOUT - Branka ZOBEC-HRASTAR who were supported by the following members of the CPT’s Secretariat: - Borys WÓDZ, Head of Division - Isabelle SERVOZ-GALLUCCI. They