A/HRC/13/39/Add.6 Romania Follow-up of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur (Nigel Rodley) on Torture pursuant his visit to Romania from 19 to 29 April 1999 (E/CN.4/2000/9/Add.3, para. 57) 73. On 23 October 2009, the Special Rapporteur sent the table below to the Government of Romania requesting information and comments on the follow-up measures taken with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of his predecessor’s visit in 1999. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government has not provided any input. He looks forward to receiving information on Romania’s efforts to follow-up to his recommendations and reaffirms that he stands ready to assist the Government of Romania in its efforts to prevent and combat torture and ill-treatment. 74. The Special Rapporteur welcomes Romania’s legislative, regulatory and institutional efforts in combating torture and ill-treatment and improving the situation of persons deprived of their liberty. However, he is concerned about reports of ill-treatment and police brutality against members of the Roma minority and urges Romania to undertake effective and impartial investigations of such allegations. 75. The Special Rapporteur regrets that he has not been provided with information about the implementation of his recommendations. He has not received any statistics on the number of pre-trial and convicted prisoners, the application of non-custodial measures and the use of video and audio taping in interrogation rooms. He has furthermore obtained no information on the availability of ex officio lawyers and a legal aid scheme. 76. Welcoming the work of the Ombudsman, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the need to grant the Office of the Ombudsman the power to investigate judicial decisions and to sanction any official who refuses to cooperate with the investigation of a complaint. 77. He furthermore repeats the need for institutional changes to prevent torture and illtreatment. Pre-trial detention centres should be placed under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and the Forensic Institute under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. Regrettably, no information on legislative steps in that regard has been received. 165