CAT/OP/ARG/1/Add.1
information (see annex I) on the methods that have been adopted or planned in response to
the relevant points of the Subcommittee’s report on its visit.
Police custody: general issues
1.
Information on the rights of persons held in custody
9.
The Ministry of Security is taking steps to inform the general public of their rights in
an effort to strengthen the protection measures afforded to all citizens of the country. To
that end, an advert was placed on the social networks starting 3 May 2013 with a view to
informing Argentine residents of their rights and strengthening the protection mechanisms
used to combat police abuse.
10.
The advert also appeared in places of detention operated by the Federal Police Force
of Argentina, with the explicit aim of making detainees in prison facilities and their families
aware of their rights.
2.
The right to notify a third party
11.
As to the lack of notification of third parties following arrest, and the suggestion that
registries of calls should be kept, it may be noted that federal police prisons do keep a
record of all calls made by detainees, including the date and time of each call and whether it
was successful. The recording of entries in the call log is obligatory and appears under No.
59 “detainee call log”.
3.
Medical examinations and medical assistance during police custody
12.
In relation to this comment, it should be noted that the Code of Criminal Procedure
provides for forensic medical examinations to be performed in all cases involving federal
police procedures and activities. As to the form in which the medical examiners of the
police and security forces perform medical examinations, it may be noted that steps are
being taken to implement the basic principles contained in the Istanbul Protocol, in order to
ensure that the health of every detainee is properly assessed.
4.
Staffing
13.
Since the establishment of the Ministry of Security at the end of 2010, a series of
measures have been put in place to improve the working conditions for all ministry staff.
To that end, several steps have been taken to provide institutional support and to ensure the
protection of the physical integrity and lives of all serving personnel.
14.
Psychological support is provided to all staff who have participated in events
involving the use of firearms and to their families, and an incentive scheme has been
introduced for staff who make proper use of force. Such measures have resulted in lives
being saved and to increases in salaries in general. The Ministry also analyses and
investigates any death or injury of police officers in order to find the most appropriate
means of preventing such occurrences in future.
15.
A Health Screening Programme has also been introduced, which primarily focuses
on assessing the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the oral and visual health of
members of the police and security forces attached to the Ministry.
16.
There has also been continuous investment in equipment. More than 222 million
pesos have recently been allocated for the acquisition of new vehicles for the security
forces, including patrol cars, motorcycles and four-wheelers. The vehicles are fitted with
technical equipment that can capture 360 degree images, read number plates and
GE.14-40297
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