EN_CPT_AR.book Page 9 Monday, October 25, 2010 5:14 PM Activities during the period 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010 In their response, the Czech authorities state that they do not share the CPT’s view that surgical castration of detained sex offenders amounts to degrading treatment. Nevertheless, they point out that the application of this intervention visà-vis sex offenders is the subject of ongoing discussions by various advisory bodies to the Government. Further, to assist the process of reflection, an expert study is being prepared by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Government Commissioner for Human Rights. In addition to examining the medical, ethical and legal aspects of the application of surgical castration in relation to sex offenders, the study will include a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of alternative methods for treating sex offenders. The Czech authorities also refer in their response to measures taken to ensure that CPT visiting delegations have unrestricted access to medical records. 7. The ad hoc visit to Italy in June 2010 was in part of a follow-up nature, namely to review steps taken to implement recommendations aimed at improving the provision of health care in prisons which were made by the CPT in the report on its 2008 periodic visit. Particular attention was given to the effect of the recent transfer of responsibility for prison health care from the Prison Administration to the Regional Health Services. The CPT’s delegation also examined the action taken in response to the increased number of suicides and acts of self-harm in prison. Further, against the backdrop of some recent and well-known cases, the delegation considered the system in place to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. 8. The purpose of the ad hoc visit to Latvia in December 2009 was to review progress as regards the treatment and conditions of detention of prisoners, in the light of the recommendations made by the CPT after its 2007 periodic visit. In the report on the 2007 visit, the Committee expressed serious concern about the situation found at Jēkabpils Prison (allegations of severe ill-treatment by prison officers, widespread violence among prisoners, poor conditions of detention). Major shortcomings were also found as regards the conditions of detention of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. During the 2009 visit, the CPT’s delegation re-examined the situation at Jēkabpils Prison. It also returned to the units for life-sentenced prisoners at Daugavgrīvas and Jelgava Prisons, which continued to hold all of the country’s male lifers. 9