CAT/C/SVK/CO/3 paragraph 9, that serious discrepancies between the Convention’s definition and that incorporated into domestic law create actual or potential loopholes for impunity. Fundamental legal safeguards 8. The Committee is concerned that detained persons do not enjoy, in practice, all fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of their deprivation of liberty, in particular after arrest by police, and that minors can undergo initial questioning without the presence of their lawyers, parents or other trusted persons (arts. 2, 12, 13 and 16). The State party should take effective measures to guarantee that all detained persons, including minors, are afforded, in practice, all fundamental legal safeguards from the outset of their deprivation of liberty, in accordance with international standards, including: (a) To be informed, both orally and in writing, in a language that they understand, about the charges against them and about their rights, and to sign a paper confirming that they have understood the information provided to them; (b) To have prompt access to a lawyer from the very outset of deprivation of liberty and, if necessary, to legal aid, including during the initial interrogation; (c) To have immediate access to an independent medical examination, free of charge and not in the presence of police officers; (d) To notify a family member or any other person of their own choice of their detention, immediately after apprehension and not only after they have seen a judge. Duration of pretrial detention 9. The Committee is concerned at the length of pretrial detention, which can last up to five years (arts. 2 and 11). The State party should amend legislation with a view to reducing the duration of pretrial detention, which should be used as an exception, applied for limited periods of time, clearly regulated and subject to judicial supervision at all times in order to guarantee fundamental legal and procedural safeguards. The State party should consider replacing pretrial detention with non-custodial measures, in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (the Tokyo Rules). In addition, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that redress and compensation are provided to victims of unjustified prolonged pretrial detention. Conditions of detention 10. The Committee is concerned at the insufficient number of psychiatrists in the prison system, as well as at the absence of a purposeful regime, including outdoor exercise, for remand prisoners and in particular for those serving life sentences (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee urges the State party to take the steps necessary to ensure that prison conditions are in line with relevant international human rights standards, and, in particular, to: (a) Ensure, with a view to preventing the deterioration of their mental faculties and social abilities, that all persons deprived of their liberty, and in particular prisoners serving life sentences, have access to a regime of organized and purposeful out-of-cell activities, and to take measures to integrate prisoners serving life sentences into the general prison population; 3

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