CAT/C/39/2 page 73 “190. The number of staff guarding detainees is extremely low. The Committee members observed that the shortage of staff had a negative effect not only on security and respect of detainees’ rights, but also on the security and morale of the staff. They also observed shortages in the number of social workers, psychologists and other staff. Furthermore, staff do not receive sufficient training on the rights of all detainees and their obligation to respect such rights.” 308. The Brazilian Government is committed to building a sound policy of formation, qualification and valorization of officers of the states’ prison systems, with a view to improving penal services in the country. In 2006, a public examination for hiring federal penitentiary agents was held. These agents will be responsible for the care, vigilance, custody, guard, assistance and guidance to inmates of federal prisons. 309. Besides the several formation courses and the organization of the National register of Specialists in Knowledge and Teaching of Penal Execution Issues, the Ministry of Justice encouraged the setting up of penitentiary schools in the whole country. In 2006, the installation of schools in five states received financing, bringing to nineteen the total number of penitentiary schools in the twenty-seven states of the country. Is must be stressed that before 2005 there were only five units of this kind in Brazil. 310. Through its National Penitentiary Department, the Ministry of Justice has also been concerned with the qualification of security agents in the field of human rights, by means of the following projects: “Establishment of the Human Rights Observatory”, “Human Rights Take the Stage” “Theater of the Oppressed in the Prisons”. Together, all these projects aim at the qualification of security agents, directors of prison units and even the inmates about the issue. 311. With this aim in sight, the Office of Improvement in Penitentiary Management (EMPG) was established through Ministerial Act (Portaria) 67, of November 29 2005, which aims at providing qualification in practical and theoretical methods of promotion and defense human rights in penal establishments, already internationally adopted. “191. Jails continue to exist in police stations. Although the initiative to decommission police stations has been partially implemented, as was observed at the 9th District Delegacia de Polícia Participativa in São Paulo and 5th District Delegacia Legal in Rio de Janeiro, there are still a large number of police stations which continue to hold detainees. The Committee members strongly recommend that any jails in police stations be abolished immediately.” 312. Every year the Federal Government apportions financial resources to the State Public Security/Social Defense Secretariats, aiming at investing in professional formation and valorization, prevention and reduction of violence, management of knowledge, institutional reorganization, structuring of expertise and external control and social participation. Within these objectives, states may also receive resources for the construction of functional units (police precincts, academies, etc.) Architectural projects for the construction or restoration of precincts that provide for the construction of cells for detainees are not accepted. It is important not to forget that the Federal Constitution grants autonomy to the federated units. The Federal

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