EN_CPT_AR.book Page 12 Monday, October 25, 2010 5:14 PM CPT General Report 2009-2010 In June 2008, the Turkish authorities informed the CPT of their intention to construct a new detention facility on Imralı island and to transfer as soon as possible a limited number of prisoners to that facility. Construction of the new detention facility was completed in the summer of 2009 and, on 17 November 2009, five prisoners were transferred to it from other prisons in Turkey. At the same time, Abdullah Öcalan was transferred to the new facility. The main objective of the 2010 visit was to verify on the spot whether and to what extent Abdullah Öcalan was effectively able to associate with other prisoners and whether he had been offered a wider range of activities. In accordance with the CPT’s mandate, the Committee’s delegation also examined the treatment of the other prisoners recently transferred to the new facility on Imralı island. On the basis of the delegation’s findings and of additional information provided by the Turkish authorities after the visit, the CPT reached the conclusion in its report that the conditions of detention of Abdullah Öcalan had improved as compared to the situation found during the Committee’s previous visit to Imralı Ftype High-Security Closed Prison in 2007. The prisoner’s integration into a setting where contacts with other inmates and a wider range of activities are possible was now underway. In addition, the Committee noted that, since March 2008, there had been a marked improvement with regard to access to Imralı island for the prisoner’s relatives and lawyers. Nevertheless, the CPT emphasises that it will continue to monitor closely the situation of Abdullah Öcalan as well as that of the other prisoners at Imralı Prison. 14. The CPT’s ad hoc visit to the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey (the Channel Islands) in March 2010 was the first time that the Committee had examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in these Crown dependencies of the United Kingdom. The Bailiwicks are not part of the United Kingdom and they each have their own legislative assembly and a separate legal and administrative system. All domestic issues, including those relating to deprivation of liberty, are the responsibility of the Bailiwick authorities. The CPT’s delegation visited a wide range of places of deprivation of liberty and enjoyed excellent cooperation at all levels. 12