CAT/OP/UKR/1 The lack of meaningful activities like work, training and education should be remedied, and sports activities made possible. (d) Contact with the outside world 105. The SPT understands that in accordance with national legislation, persons under investigation could not receive visits from family members unless these were approved by the investigator or court to which their case was assigned. As a result, the majority of persons detained in SIZOs, who are often held in pre-trial detention for lengthy periods of time, did not receive visits (or were compelled to designate family members as their civil advocates). The SPT is concerned by such a strict regime for visits, and notes that the method of approving visits may lead to an abuse of power. 106. The SPT recommends that the rules be revised in order to allow regular family visits to all persons held in pre-trial detention, in accordance with international standards.51 Decisions to restrict family visits should be justified on the basis of transparent criteria, limited in time and subject to regular review. (e) Discipline and sanction 107. The conditions of the disciplinary cells in all SIZOs visited were inhumane. They were bare, small, very dark, poorly ventilated, and humid, with appalling hygiene and completely inadequate toilet facilities and bedding. In addition, the regime for persons held in SIZOs subject to life sentences was essentially the same as being kept in the disciplinary cells for the entire duration of the detention. 108. The SPT considers that such disciplinary detention amounts to ill-treatment, and could in some circumstances be used in a fashion which amounts to a form of torture. The conditions of detention and regime in the disciplinary cells in SIZOs should be revised as a matter of priority, with a view to making conditions of detention during disciplinary measures more humane, and in line with international standards.52 Furthermore, persons appealing life sentences and being held in SIZOs during that time should not be kept in conditions equivalent to a permanent disciplinary regime. 2. Torture and ill-treatment 109. The SPT considers that the situations of concern outlined in the preceding section (“Conditions of detention”) may amount to the ill-treatment of persons detained for prolonged periods of time in the SIZOs, and could in some circumstances amount to a form of torture. 110. The SPT therefore recommends that the State party take urgent steps to remedy the situations of concern described above, in order to fulfil its international human rights obligations regarding the prevention of torture and ill-treatment. 51 52 European Prison Rules, Rule 99. Standard Minimum Rules, Rule 31. 19