CAT/C/GTM/CO/5-6 Detention centres and alternative-care centres for juveniles 19. The Committee notes with concern the poor conditions, including overcrowding, in juvenile detention centres. The Committee notes with particular concern the reports about the ill-treatment of minors in detention, including corporal punishment and locking them up for long periods. It is also concerned about reports that minors are ill-treated on admission to both public and private alternative-care centres (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee recommends that the State party should: (a) Ensure that the deprivation of liberty of minors is a last resort limited to the shortest possible period, and that it is reviewed periodically with a view to eliminating it; (b) Take all necessary steps to bring juvenile detention centres into line with the relevant international standards and, in particular, to reduce overcrowding and avoid locking up inmates for long periods; (c) Ensure that minors deprived of their liberty and those in public or private alternative-care centres receive an education and appropriate rehabilitation and reintegration services; (d) Adopt without delay appropriate measures to prevent and punish any type of ill-treatment of minors deprived of their liberty or those in alternative-care centres; (e) Ensure that all detention centres and alternative-care centres for minors are subject to regular, unannounced checks, and that the minors have access to independent complaints mechanisms. Private drug rehabilitation centres 20. The Committee is concerned about the reports of poor conditions in private drug rehabilitation centres and ill-treatment inflicted upon persons admitted to them. The Committee notes with satisfaction the State party’s commitment to carrying out the relevant investigations, as indicated in the additional information provided (arts. 2, 11, 12 and 16). The Committee urges the State party to carry out the relevant investigations without delay and to take all steps that might be necessary to prevent and punish ill-treatment in private drug rehabilitation centres. The Committee recommends that the State party conduct a survey of existing centres in the country and ensure that each is duly accredited by the competent authority and is subject to a regular inspection programme. It also recommends that the State party ensure the prompt, thorough and effective investigation of all complaints of ill-treatment in these centres and that the persons responsible are brought to trial and, if found guilty, receive penalties commensurate with the seriousness of their acts. Federico Mora National Mental Health Hospital 21. The Committee is concerned about the poor conditions in the Federico Mora National Mental Health Hospital, which include inadequate access to basic services and a lack of proper medical treatment. It is also concerned about reports that persons with mental disabilities who have been deprived of their liberty and are admitted to this hospital share wards with ordinary patients, and that persons admitted to the hospital are abused by other patients or by police officers assigned to the hospital. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the delegation to the effect that that the precautionary measures requested by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the patients of the Federico Mora hospital have led the Government to address mental health issues as a 8 GE.13-44736

Select target paragraph3