2016 REPORT ON NATIONAL PREVENTION OF TORTURE
facilities (4), and places for the detention of
foreigners (3), a total of 23 questionnaire-based
inspections.
information is available or reasonable doubts
arise about any alleged violations of the rights of
detainees, a decision may be taken to monitor the
human rights situation at an appropriate institution. In 2016, such an inspection was carried out
at Prienai Care Home in response to the media
information on a tragedy that had occurred in
December leading to the death of a bedridden
female resident (the woman had smoked in bed
and caused fire, resulting in her suffocation), and
on receiving two anonymous complaints (on
9 and 12 December 2016) about the alleged violations of the residents’ rights at that institution.
THEMATIC INSPECTIONS
During thematic inspections, the focus is on a
particular sphere(s), for example, the issues of
providing health care services, creating a general climate of security, preventing smoking
and alcohol consumption, imposing penalties
and personnel issues, or on particular persons,
for example, groups of vulnerable individuals
(women, minors and persons with physical
disabilities), or on recommendations made by
international institutions, etc.
The Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office also contributes
to the implementation of international commit
ments assumed by the Republic of Lithuania.
In September 2016, a visit was held to Rokiškis
Mental Hospital, with a view to evaluating the
readiness of the institution to improve its activities with account of the preliminary recommendations made by the European Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to
as “the European Committee for the Prevention
of Torture” or “CPT”) after the visit of its members
at that institution.
During the reporting period, seven thematic
inspections were carried out at the following
institutions: Alytus Correction House, Prienai Care
Home, Rokiškis Mental Hospital and four care
homes in Kaunas County.
The thematic inspection at Alytus Correction
House, a detention facility, evaluated whether
proper living/detention conditions, security, the
right to information submission of appeals as
well as access to health care were ensured for
the detainees. Thematic inspections were also
conducted at the children’s homes of Kaunas
County, dealing with the issues of ensuring the
sufficient number of employees, a secure environment, the treatment of children by the employees
and protection against improper treatment, the
application of disciplinary measures, the deve
lopment of social skills, the organisation of leisure,
the introduction of the children to their rights and
duties, and availability of information.
FOLLOW-UP INSPECTIONS
Follow-up inspections are intended to find out
the results of implementation of the Seimas
Ombudsmen’s recommendations, as the followup on their implementation is a very important
aspect of the national prevention of torture which
allows identifying whether the recommendations
were implemented and what particular actions
were taken to implement them. In 2016, the
Seimas Ombudsmen conducted 17 follow-up
inspections at different places of detention:
Thematic inspections are also carried out in response to any information in the public domain
relating to events at places of detention. Where
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