undertaking works to ensure that Article 12 of the standard internal regulations of penal institutions is respected to allow women placed in the disciplinary wing to go for walks in an actual courtyard; this Article states “every detainee must be allowed to go for a walk in open air every day for at least one hour”. In reply, the Minister of Justice as well as the prison administrative department announced that works will be undertaken in order to expand the opening of the grating that allows people to activate the call button and switch from the cells, with the aim of providing easier access to these controls. They also stated that the metal sheet blocking the window will be removed and replaced with grating, which will allow a better natural lighting in the room. On this subject, she added that the neon light located in the dressing room will be moved closer to the inside of the cell. As regards the question of the peephole located above the toilet of the disciplinary cell, they believe that it does not allow observing a person using the toilets. And yet, the verifications conducted by the inspectors prove otherwise; the Contrôleur général therefore upheld her recommendation concerning the blocking of this equipment. As regards the room used as a courtyard, the director stated that improvements were made to the original configuration, especially by installing windows to protect the room from the cold. The director specified that in order to allow greater access to open air, two types of measures are being implemented: firstly, a certain number of windows in the courtyard were removed to improve air circulation; secondly, a study is being conducted to allow an “open-air” opening in the ceiling, which has significant technical constraints. The Contrôleur général has taken note of these observations and wishes to be kept informed of the conclusions of the study on the feasibility of the planned works, and to know any actions taken in consequence. - the CGLPL was informed of the situation of a Chinese couple who, having been subject to obligation to leave French territory and a house arrest after their application for a residence permit was rejected, and having refused to board an aircraft deporting them to Beijing, were placed in the CRA of Mesnil-Amelot along with their twenty-two month-old son. Paying special attention to the presence of children in places of deprivation of liberty, the Contrôleur général delegated two inspectors to visit the CRA of Mesnil-Amelot and to observe the conditions in which this family was being held there. They examined the conditions of treatment of the young child (food, hygiene, activities, etc.) and collected the observations of the couple, the police officers and the intervening staff. The inspectors were then informed of the release of this couple, as they were once again being placed under house arrest. - Having been informed of the implementation of an experiment of a workshop on a single male-female concession, the objective of which was to allow equal treatment between men and women, the Contrôleur général delegated two inspectors to visit the site and observe its functioning. On the day of the on-site verification, seventy-four detainees were selected for the single workshop: seventy men and four women (out of the twenty-two present in the institution). The selection procedure in the single workshop is the normal procedure used for any selection for a job in the production workshops, and no specific criterion is required. In practice, the workshop, with an area of 600 m², was located on the ground floor of building A of the men’s wing. It is made up of two production areas: one for electric assembly and the other reserved for a sewing workshop. This second area hosts the selected female detainees as well as the men selected for the sewing workshop, with the two groups being separated; the women occupy a table close to the entrance of the second area, on the right. They are not allowed to move in the first area, they cannot communicate with the male workers and cannot move to another post. The inspectors noted that special attention is paid to the protection of women and their surveillance, and that the setting up of this workshop had been marked by reticence and opposition from the surveillance staff. In its conclusions, the CGLPL stated that the single male-female workshop fulfilled its objectives: permanent and sufficient offer of work, return to normal life. It highlighted the investment of the administration and the supervisory staff in its implementation. Finally, it recommended that this experiment should be continued and developed, and that the men and women should slowly be allowed to mix in this single male-female workshop. 96