A/HRC/13/39/Add.2 I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the Human Rights Council undertook a visit to Uruguay from 21 to 27 March 2009, at the invitation of the Government. 2. The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation of torture and ill-treatment in the country, including conditions of detention; and to initiate a process of cooperation with the Government aimed at eradicating torture and ill-treatment and reforming the administration of justice system. 3. The Special Rapporteur expresses deep appreciation to the Government for extending an invitation to visit the country, which in itself is a sign of the Government’s willingness to open up to independent and objective scrutiny. He also appreciates the full cooperation extended by the authorities during the course of the visit, and would like to thank the Government for issuing authorization letters providing him with unrestricted access to all detention facilities. During the visit, he enjoyed unannounced and unimpeded access to places of detention, private interviews with the detainees, and access to documentation. Although he found serious problems within the entire system of administration of justice, the Government continued to extend its full cooperation to the Special Rapporteur, which was highly appreciated. 4. The Special Rapporteur held meetings with Government officials, including the Vice-President of Uruguay and President of Parliament, the Interim Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Education and Culture, the Minister of Public Health, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Public Prosecutor and Attorney General, the President of the National Institute for Children and Adolescents, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Penitentiary System, the Deputy Minister of Education and Culture, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, the Director of the National Police, the Director of Human Rights of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Director of the Mental Health Programme of the Ministry of Public Health. 5. Outside of Government, the Special Rapporteur met with members of Parliament, a broad range of civil society organizations, lawyers and victims’ families. In addition, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with representatives of international organizations (e.g. the United Nations Country Team, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Population Fund) and the diplomatic community. 6. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur visited prisons, police stations, detention centres for minors and two psychiatric centres (see also appendix).1 7. The Special Rapporteur wishes to acknowledge with appreciation the excellent support provided by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Pablo Mandeville; his adviser, Silvia da Rin Pagnetto; and Juan-Miguel Petit, Human Rights and Communication Adviser as well as the entire United Nations Country Team for their excellent assistance 1 4 Santiago Vázquez Prison (COMPEN, locally known as COMCAR); Libertad Penitentiary; Cárcel Central, Montevideo (visited twice); Women’s Pavilion, Departmental Prison of Canelones; Las Piedras and SER Homes, Colonia Berro for Juveniles; Centre for Arrivals and Referrals, Puertas; Police Headquarters, Montevideo (visited twice); Police Station, Seccional 1; Police Station, Seccional 15, La Unión; Vilardebó Psychiatric Hospital; Dr. B. Etchepare and Santin Carlos Rossi Colonies for Psychiatric Care. GE.09-17655