Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2014
changed to comply with applicable law. Moreover, the training on issues related to
protection of children’s rights in international and national law was held.
9.4. Prison
Recommendations made by the representatives of the NPM during their
visit to the Prison in Siedlce mostly concerned ill-treatment of persons deprived
of their liberty by PS officers and were designed to remedy this situation. It was
also recommended to improve living conditions, e.g.: to wall off sanitary facilities,
exchange used cell equipment or increase frequency of bathing per week.
It was found during the revisit that, upon implementation of the recommendations, relations between PS officers and inmates significantly improved. Cases of
ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty were eliminated.
However, as individual inmates complained of their treatment, the representatives of the NPM pointed out that efforts to eliminate violence and abuse
of power by officials through e.g. training, psychological testing, anti-stress workshops, supervisions, etc. should be continued.
As regards the recommendation of the representatives of the NPM to continue renovations, it should be noted that cells are renovated gradually, within
available resources and in line with current needs. All bathrooms were provided
with partitions between showers and the second bath was introduced for inmates. Moreover, training recommended by the representatives of the NPM was
held, including the following classes: “Humane and Lawful Treatment of Persons
Deprived of their Liberty and Remand Prisoners”, “European Convention on the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”, “Convention against
Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment”, “International Standards of Imprisonment” and classes on interpersonal relationships. Used cell equipment is
replaced within available financial resources, thus only some residential cells
were provided with new equipment. In many cells, it was still badly worn. The representatives of the NPM reiterated their recommendation to replace used and
damaged cell equipment, including provision of cells with beds with appropriate
mattresses, ladders and upper safety rails as well as containers for personal belongings of inmates.
9.5. Pre-trial detention centre
Recommendations made during the visit to the Pre-Trial Detention Centre
in Częstochowa concerned, among others, ensuring adequate living conditions or,
if not possible, putting premises, which do not meet even minimal national stan-
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