Contents
1. Introduction������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 7
1.1. General assessment of compliance with the prohibition of torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments in the Republic of Serbia�����������������������������������������������������7
1.2. The most important information about the activities of the Ombudsman while
performing duties of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) in 2013.....................���11
2. Prohibition of Torture........................................................................................................................12
2.1. National legislation..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
2.2 International instruments....................................................................................................................................................................... 13
3. Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture................................................................15
3.1. Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture..................................................................................................................................... 15
3.2 National Mechanisms for the Prevention of Torture............................................................................................................. 16
3.3. Setting-up NPM in Serbia....................................................................................................................................................................... 17
4. Methodology, resources and organisation of the NPM in 2013...............................................18
4.1.
4.2.
4.3.
4.4
4.5.
4.6.
4.7.
4.8.
Methodology of the NPM...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Material resources and financial independence of the NPM......................................................................................... 20
Pro-active NPM Organisational Unit and its operational independence................................................................ 21
Participation of the Provintial Ombudsman in the activities of the NPM............................................................... 21
Participation of the civil sector in activities of the NPM..................................................................................................... 22
Engagement of the external experts in performing duties of the NPM................................................................. 23
Training of the NPM team members.............................................................................................................................................. 23
Other forms of cooperation.................................................................................................................................................................. 23
5. Execution of the NPM mandate in 2013........................................................................................24
5.1.
5.2.
5.3.
5.4.
5.5.
5.6.
5.7.
5.8.
5.9.
5.10.
5.11.
Visits to the institutions where persons deprived of liberty are placed.................................................................. 24
Cooperation with the public authorities during visits to the institutions.............................................................. 24
Reports on visits to institutions.......................................................................................................................................................... 25
Recommendations for remedying identified deficiencies............................................................................................... 25
Establishing a cooperative dialogue with public authorities......................................................................................... 25
Prevention of reprisals against persons cooperating with NPM.................................................................................. 26
Improving legislation on prevention of torture....................................................................................................................... 26
Promotion of the NPM and prevention of torture................................................................................................................. 27
Cooperation with the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.................................................................................. 27
Cooperation with other NPMs and establishment of the NPM regional network........................................... 28
Distribution / review of the NPM annual report...................................................................................................................... 28