Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights on the activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland in 2017 Bath once per week The visits revealed that there is one establishment where the possibility to have a hot bath only once per week was a standard. Nowadays, in the light of international and Polish standards, access to one hot bath per week is against the principles of hygienic lifestyle37. Dirty clothing In one of the establishments, the NMPT representatives pointed out that prison clothing in the vestibule of one of the cells was in bad condition. The clothes were lying in bags on the floor, they were dirty and unsuitable for use38. Failure to ensure the possibility for the proper storage of items The delegation also pointed out that prisoners were not provided with the possibility to properly store their personal items in drawers located next to their beds, in containers or wardrobes39. Prisoners had to keep their personal belongings in plastic bags, textile bags or simply scattered in their bed areas. Missing roofing over prison yards Moreover, prison yards were not sheltered with a roof which could protect prisoners from bad weather conditions during their walks40. 3. The right to contacts with the outside world The possibility to contact one’s defence counsel and notify a selected person about the arrest and detention (including a consular representative in case of foreigners) constitutes a fundamental guarantee against ill-treatment in the period of deprivation of liberty. Therefore, it is essential to make prisoners aware of those rights and ensure they are respected in practice (SPT)41. 37 Prison in Herby 38 Pre-trial detention centre in Grójec 39 Pre-trial detention centre in Grójec, pre-trial detention centre in Wałbrzych 40 Pre-trial detention centre in Wałbrzych 41 Report of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) from the visit to Ukraine, 16 March 2016, CAT/OP/UKR/1, Articles 37-42; SPT report from the visit to Ukraine, 18 May 2017, CAT/OP/UKR/3, Articles 45-52; SPT report from the visit to Togo, 28 April 2016, CAT/OP/TGO/1, Articles 79, 81, 115-116; Second General CPT Report, CPT/Inf (92) 3, Article 36; Report from the CPT visit to Poland, 25 June 2014, CPT/Inf (2014) 21, Article 26 and further. 21