its Recommendation no. 03-2/3953 to provide the prisoners with adequate living
conditions.
The Special Preventive Group considered the conditions of prisoners in solitary
confinement cells at the Institution no. 3 also ill-treatment. The Group was visiting
the Institution no. 3 through 23-24 October 2014. Our monitoring revealed that it
was impossible to keep sanitation and hygiene in the cells, there was an unbearable
smell all around, the prisoners did not have matrasses and linen27 and they had to
sleep on iron beds.28 One of the prisoners had toilet paper rolled around his body
underneath his clothes to protect himself from cold. The prisoners allocated in solitary
confinement cells were not allowed to exercise outside.29
The living conditions are particularly grave at the Institution no. 7. The Public Defender
has been repeatedly addressing the Minister of Corrections with its recommendations
on this issue. The matter is discussed in detail in the Public Defender’s 2013 Report
to the Georgian Parliament but major problems at the Institution have not been dealt
with to this date.30
2.2.3.2. PENITENTIARY STAFF TRAINING
Development of professional teaching programs and trainings for public officials is a
key element of a strategy of prevention of torture and inhuman treatment.31
Consequently, it is necessary to organize trainings and courses for them periodically.
Especially needed are trainings in effective prevention of prison incidents and human
rights-based approaches.
Pursuant to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
27
28
29
30
31
On the issue of providing prisoners in solitary confinement cells with mattrasses and linen, the
monitoring team spoke with the Institution’s lawyer who explained that the law does not envisage
that such prisoners be provided with matrasses and linen.
It should be noted that, during our visit to the Institution no. 3, the Penitentiary Department’s
Monitoring Division was conducting its scheduled monitoring to the same institution. The National
Preventive Mechanism team provided the Penitentiary Department’s monitoring group with
information about detention conditions in solitary confinement cells that are incompatible with
human dignity demanding that the Penitentiary Department’s monitoring group take appropriate
measures immediately. Our team informed the group also about other problems we revealed at
the Institution no. 3.
Detention conditions must be compatible with respect for human dignity, prisoners’ health and
well-being should be adequately secured (Valašinas v. Lithuania, no. 44558/98, § 102, ECHR
2001‑VIII).
For more detail, please see in this Report a chapter entitled “Physical environment and sanitation
and hygienic conditions at penitentiary institutions”
Human Rights Committee general comment No. 20: “Enforcement personnel, medical personnel,
police officers and any person involved in the custody or treatment of any individual subjected to
any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment must receive appropriate instruction and training.
States Parties should inform the Committee of the instruction and training given and the way
in which the prohibition of article 7 forms an integral part of the operational rules and ethical
standards to be followed by such persons” (par. 10).
NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM OF GEORGIA
29
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents