European Committee: CPT Publishes Report on 2023 Visit to Slovak Facilities

Strasbourg, April 10 (TASR) - The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published on Thursday a report on its periodic visit to the Slovak Republic in 2023, where it highlighted several recommendations to the authorities, TASR learnt from European Commission spokesman Jaime Rodriguez on the same day. The CPT delegation assessed the treatment of individuals held in police custody, in several prisons, as well as individuals held at Hronovce Detention Institute (Nitra region), involuntary patients in two civilian psychiatric institutions, and foreign nationals detained at the Medvedov Immigration Detention Facility (Trnava region). Most individuals interviewed by the CPT during the inspection claimed that they were treated correctly. However, the CPT delegation received several complaints about physical ill-treatment and excessive use of force during the time of detention, during the transfer of detainees to the police station, and during the initial registration of detainees by the police. No cases of physical ill-treatment were reported at Zilina Prison or at Hronovce Detention Institute. The facilities in Hronovce were clean and had access to natural light. However, the CPT Committee recommended taking measures to create a more therapeutic environment, including various activities and providing visual stimulation for patients in their rooms and common areas. The delegation also criticised the excessive emphasis on security. According to the report, the facility has numerous surveillance cameras, both in the common areas and in the patients' rooms. The CPT considers that the decision to impose CCTV surveillance in a patient’s room should always be based on serious health or security concerns, established through an individual risk assessment, and reviewed regularly. Patients interviewed by the delegation at the psychiatric departments of Roznava Hospital (Kosice region) and Bratislava University Hospital (Hospital of Saints Cyril and Methodius) made no allegations of physical ill-treatment by staff. However, the CPT recommended that all patients at the psychiatric hospital in Bratislava be given daily access to outdoor walks. Patients were offered proper medical treatment but were not involved in drawing up of their own treatment plans, which also lacked an individualised and multidisciplinary approach. In 2020, Slovak authorities adopted nationwide guidelines on the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The Committee highlighted the excessive use of ECT in Roznava and called for strict adherence to the guidelines. At Hrnciarovce nad Parnou Prison (Trnava region) and in Ruzomberok (Zilina region), prisoners reported several cases of physical ill-treatment, including slaps and kicks by the staff. At the Medvedov Immigration Detention Facility, the CPT delegation heard several allegations of physical ill-treatment of detained foreigners, allegedly to force compliance. The building was in poor technical condition, and during the visit, no activities were provided for the foreigners. The Committee welcomed several positive changes since the last visit in 2018. However, the CPT recommended that staff in the facilities be strongly reminded that any form of ill-treatment is illegal, unprofessional, and unacceptable, and that appropriate sanctions will be imposed for such behavior. lin