A/HRC/16/52/Add.5 of up to a year. They were forced to sleep on the floor, the cells were often infested with mice, cockroaches and other insects, and access to food and water for drinking, washing or for toilet use was severely limited. Detention for such long periods in these conditions amounts to inhuman and degrading treatment. 77. The conditions in correctional institutions were generally better, but the facilities were still overcrowded, particularly remand and maximum security sections, as were punishment cells. There was a strict separation between men and women, and in principle juveniles were also kept in separate sections. However, there was an overall lack of medical attention, even for those who had been severely beaten by the authorities, and the poor sanitary conditions facilitated the spread of contagious diseases. There were few correctional institutions with running water, mosquito nets, beds and mattresses. Food was also insufficient and of very low nutritional value. In principle, there were work and educational opportunities for detainees. 78. Despite the existence of the Police Juvenile Policy and Diversity Protocol, an excellent tool for dealing with juveniles in conflict with the law, it is for the most part not applied. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur did not come across any police station where juveniles were held separately from adults, although in correctional institutions juveniles were kept separate, in better conditions than male adults. The Special Rapporteur was particularly pleased with the privately run Hohola remand centre for juveniles, a well-equipped facility where juveniles were provided with a friendly and stimulating environment, including opportunities for education and work. 79. Women in Papua New Guinea have a very low social status, placing them at a very high risk of abuse both in the domestic and in the public sphere. Gender-based violence is prevalent throughout the country; domestic violence is widespread and there is no effective State mechanism to address it. In detention, women are extremely vulnerable to sexual abuse from police officers or other detainees. Women’s sections in correctional institutions were better maintained and, in general, female prisoners had opportunities to work, study or obtain counselling. However, women were also forced to perform domestic work for officers both in police stations and correctional institutions. B. Recommendations 80. In a spirit of cooperation and partnership, the Special Rapporteur addresses the following recommendations to the Government of Papua New Guinea, aimed at preventing torture and ill-treatment and improving conditions of detention. He was assured that every effort would be taken to implement his recommendations, and stands ready to offer his full cooperation and assistance in this regard. 1. Impunity 81. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government: (a) Have the highest authorities, in particular those responsible for law enforcement activities, declare unambiguously that they will not tolerate torture or similar ill-treatment by public officials and that those in command at the time abuses are perpetrated will be held personally responsible for them; (b) Ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Optional Protocol thereto, providing for regular preventive visits to all places of detention by an independent domestic monitoring body. A declaration should be made with respect to article 22 of the 17