5 October 2017: Visit to the Police Station of Kofinou for an on-site inspection of the works made to create an outdoor exercise area. 30 October 2017: Visit to the private Care Home for the Elderly and the Disabled “Ayios Ioannis” in Kolossi. 30 November 2017: Visit to the Detention Centre of Oroklini. Β. STANCE ON THE PROCESS OF DEINSTITUTIONALISATION OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHALASSA In accordance with article 7 of Law 2 (ΙΙΙ)/2009, the Commissioner as NPM has the mandate to submit her views and recommendations on the strengthening of the rights and the improvement of treatment of detainees, as well as the prevention of torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment. The said stance emphasised that the rights of people with disabilities are, first and foremost, human rights and no discrimination due to disability can be tolerated in safeguarding such rights. Therefore, taking every appropriate measure to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to enjoy, on an equal and effective basis, the human rights and freedoms in their entirety constitutes a fundamental obligation of the State. As noted in the Stance, unfortunately, the State, for many years, has failed to meet its obligations towards people with mental disabilities who were confined in Ward 14 of the Psychiatric Hospital of Athalassa, thus demonstrating unprecedented indifference to safeguarding the rights of these individuals. For decades, these people were under compulsory hospitalisation in a place completely unsuitable for their condition but also 31