3 1. INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAK Under Government Decision3 dated 10 March 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 was declared an infectious disease whose prevention and mitigation is of interest to the Republic of Serbia. Under the later Order of the Minister of Health4, dated 19 March 2020, the outbreak of the infectious disease COVID-19 was declared, an outbreak of greater epidemiological significance for the territory of the Republic of Serbia. At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic of COVID-19 on 11 March 2020.5 The outbreak has created new challenges for public authorities and officials working in places of deprivation of liberty. Recognizing this, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) issued a Statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on 20 March 2020.6 On 27 March 2020, the NPM sent official letters to all administrative authorities in charge of the facilities where persons deprived of their liberty are held or may be held, reminding them that the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is absolute and that protective measures undertaken by the state to combat COVID-19 must never result in any form of ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. He also pointed out CPT principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty during the corona virus pandemic and called on all competent authorities and all institutions to adhere to them. The CPT principles, as well as the Advice of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to States Parties and National Preventive Mechanisms relating to the Coronavirus Pandemic, adopted on 25 March 2020, are published on the NPM website and are available in English and Serbian.7 In order to monitor compliance with CPT principles, the NPM maintained written communication with competent authorities and visited certain places of deprivation of liberty. Its findings are presented in this report. 05 No. 53-2281/2020. Number 512-02-00016/2020-10. 5 www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march2020. 6 CPT/Inf(2020)13. 7 npm.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=904:заштитник-грађана-забрана-мучења-и-нечовечног-илипонжавајућег-поступања-или-кажњавања-апсолутна&catid=108:2012-01-18-20-51-23&Itemid=71. 3 4