-38 Group of detainees not to isolate Pregnant, breastfeeding mothers and mothers with small children Source Bangkok Rules, Mandela Rules, EPR (regarding disciplinary solitary confinement) This group of detainees should never be isolated because their mental state could further deteriorate because of isolation (CAT, HRC, SPT, SRT, Mandela Rules, EPR). Detainees with mental health problems, or with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities According to the Special Rapporteur of Torture, any imposition of solitary confinement of any length on people with mental illnesses constitutes a cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, which violates Article 7 of the ICCPR and Article 16 of the CAT. The ECtHR stated that the placement of mentally ill people in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time inevitable affects their mental state, and that it may be incompatible with Art. 3. Death-row detainees Solitary confinement as part of the prison sentence CAT, HRC CAT, Special Rapporteur on Torture, HRC, Mandela Rules, CPT. Also, the CPT has recently stated that this use of solitary confinement is a punitive and anachronistic measure which does not have any penological justification. Human rights bodies also protect other groups in a situation of vulnerability. Another group in a situation of vulnerability is represented by pre-trial detainees who in some countries are isolated for long periods of time without meaningful activities. Human rights bodies underline that also in their case solitary confinement should be used only in exceptional circumstances, for a limited period of time (HRC113, SPT114), and only if 113. Human Rights Committee, Report of the Human Rights Committee. Volume I, A/61/40, New York, 2006, §81(13) 114. Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, 2008, §§125, 127.