7
4. CPT PRINCIPLE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the competent public authorities and all facilities where persons are
deprived of their liberty in the territory of the Council of Europe must ensure that any restrictive
measures taken vis-à-vis persons deprived of their liberty to prevent the spread of the virus should
have a legal basis and be necessary, proportionate, respectful of human dignity and restricted in time.
Persons deprived of their liberty should receive comprehensive information, in a language they
understand, about any such measures that were taken or will be taken.
NPM FINDING
All persons deprived of their liberty have been informed about the measures taken to prevent the spread
of coronavirus, about the preventive measures and conduct in connection with the above, and notices
were posted in the corridors of all visited correctional institutions.
Disease outbreak notification in the Penal-Correctional Institution Belgrade
Visits to convicts were initially limited to 15 minutes and one visitor, with mandatory use of protective
masks and gloves, and visits were prohibited as of 30 March 2020. The right of a lawyer to visit his/her
clients is exercised with full protective measures, which include a glass or other transparent barrier, as
well as mandatory use of protective masks and gloves, and visit time is limited to 30 minutes.
Out-of-prison rights and benefits, as well as employment outside the correctional institution, were
suspended in all visited institutions until further notice, and the management of the institutions informed
persons deprived of their liberty that all suspended out-of-prison rights and benefits will be compensated
for when the situation normalizes.
Packages are received only by mail, and canteen supply has been increased. In the Penal-Correctional
Institution Sremska Mitrovica, packages received by mail must be set aside for 24 hours before being
delivered to the recipient, due to the possibility of the virus remaining on the surface of the item.
The treatment is regularly performed in all correctional institutions on an individual level, i.e. there is no
group treatment.
There are no visits or package deliveries, at the Reception Centre for Aliens, however ready to eat and
cooked meals are provided for all persons. On the day of the visit, there were 5 people fasting for
Ramadan who were allowed to bring meals to their dormitories and eat them when they want.