Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2014 Undoubtedly, maintaining close family or peer ties is part of the right to maintain contact with the outside world. Besides, in line with the recommendation formulated in the Havana Rules, juveniles should be provided with any opportunity to contact with the outside world, because contact of this kind is an integral element of fair and humane treatment and is essential for preparing them to return to the bosom of society (Rule 59). This issue is similarly addressed in European rules for enforcement of sanctions and measures adopted in relation to juvenile perpetrators of criminal acts (adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 5 November 2008) which stress the principle of diverse and unlimited, as much as possible, contacts of a juvenile with the outside world. 5. Right to religious practices It was found that four73 care centres do not fully respect the right to religious practices. This was due to the fact that it was possible to go to a church only if an appropriate number of charges wanted to go. Individual persons were not allowed to go out. Moreover, there was one centre74 in which only up to eight boys were allowed to participate in Sunday Mass, because the YCC’s vehicle had not enough seats. In the opinion of the representatives of the NPM, if a juvenile wishes to attend Mass, he/she should be given such a possibility. Providing everyone with freedom of conscience and religion, which covers freedom to profess or adopt religion of personal choice, is a fundamental right of every person referred to in Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. 6. Personnel The representatives of the NPM attach great importance to the issue of appropriate and regular training of personnel, because – according to the position of the CPT75 – it is one of the forms to prevent inhuman treatment. Therefore, they recommended holding training for employees on, e.g.: children’s rights in international and national law, stress management, prevention of occupational burnout, interpersonal communication, dealing with aggression from a charge, introducing creative methods of social rehabilitation, working with trauma, etc. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to supervise YCC specialists as regards deepening their existing knowledge, skills and behaviour, as well as protection against excessive stress and, consequently, against occupational burnout. 7. Living conditions YCCs in: Rewal, Namysłów, Zawiść, Skarżysko-Kamienna. YCC in Wojnów. 75 Fragment of the Second General Report [CPT/Inf (92) 3]. 73 74 30