APPENDIX Dnr O 7-2018 be fundamentally changed. The Committee recommended that the Swedish authorities take decisive action swiftly – including legislative changes – to ensure that restrictions are used only if there are exceptional reasons for doing so. In addition, the Swedish authorities were urged to radically improve the range of activities for inmates. In the opinion of the Committee, the aim should be that all inmates are provided with the opportunity to spend at least eight hours a day outside their cells and, in connection with this, provided with the opportunity to participate in purposeful activities of a varied nature.10 UN Committees The CAT is an expert committee tasked with monitoring compliance with the UN Convention against Torture. During the periodic review of Sweden's report on the implementation of its Convention commitments in 2014, the CAT expressed concern regarding the high percentage of inmates who were subject to restrictions in Swedish remand prisons. The Committee also expressed concern at the widespread and, in some cases, prolonged use of solitary confinement of inmates. For this reason, Sweden was urged to use restrictions only in exceptional cases and only when necessary for investigative reasons. Furthermore, Sweden was urged to abolish the solitary confinement of minors.11 The SPT is an expert committee under Opcat which, inter alia, can visit places where individuals are deprived of their liberty. The Subcommittee visited Sweden in 2008 and, following the visit, emphasised that restrictions must not be used routinely. The SPT noted that the current lack of systematically collected data on the use of restrictions and their impact makes it impossible to conduct a proper oversight of the practice. Furthermore, the Subcommittee recommended, inter alia, that Sweden takes measures to prevent the negative effects which can occur from prolonged isolation. In the opinion of the SPT, all staff working with inmates in remand prisons must be trained to be able to recognise the stress symptoms associated with isolation. In addition, the Subcommittee took the view that inmates must be given greater opportunities for work, exercise and other activities.12 Likewise, other UN committees have voiced concern on the conditions of remand prisons and the risks of isolation. In 2015, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called on Sweden to ensure that all children are removed from solitary confinement and to review its legislation in order to prohibit the solitary confinement of children.13 In 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors compliance with the UN Convention on Civil and Political 10 See CPT/Inf (2016) 1 paragraph 53. See CAT/C/SWE/CO6-7 paragraph 8. See CAT/OP/SWE1 paragraphs 112, 122, 123 and 127. 13 See CRC/C/SWE/CO/5 paragraph 26. 11 12 – 87 – Page 6 (21) C