CAT/OP/HUN/2
31.
In addition, the Subcommittee recommends that the national preventive
mechanism ensure that standard operating procedures are uniformly applied by all its
staff and members of the Civic Consultative Body, with a view to ensuring consistency
of working methods and knowledge-sharing. Adequate training for all persons
participating in mechanism visits to places of deprivation of liberty, including external
experts, is essential and should be put in place, including through the development of
handbooks and assistance from international partners.
32.
While noting the professionalism of some of the national preventive mechanism
members when conducting interviews with detainees, the Subcommittee recommends
that all participants in visits carried out by the mechanism undergo regular training,
including in interview techniques, visiting procedures and the detection of signs and
risks of torture and ill-treatment. Working methods and a comprehensive visiting
methodology should be developed to highlight systemic institutional challenges,
including those affecting vulnerable populations in places of deprivation of liberty.
Experienced mechanism members could provide new staff and external experts with
training in interviewing techniques.
B.
1.
Recommendations on methodological issues relating to visits
Workplan, reporting and follow-up
33.
The national preventive mechanism plans its visiting activities on a yearly basis,
taking into account the different types and geographical locations of places of deprivation
of liberty and the categories of persons deprived of liberty, as well as thematic targets for
the year in question. However, the Subcommittee observed that the mechanism mainly
focuses on detention monitoring activities.
34.
The Subcommittee recommends that the national preventive mechanism focus
not only on visiting places of deprivation of liberty but also on other preventive
activities. The Subcommittee also recommends that the mechanism develop an annual
workplan which should include all preventive activities, including commenting on
draft legislation and awareness-raising and training activities, in accordance with
article 19 of the Optional Protocol and paragraph 9 of the analytical assessment tool
for national preventive mechanisms.
35.
With a view to properly fulfilling its mandate under the Optional Protocol in
various areas, with its preventive role in mind, the national preventive mechanism is
advised to analyse its activities in the light of relevant international instruments. Such
an exercise can be done by using the Subcommittee’s Analytical assessment tool for
national preventive mechanisms and the matrix based thereon. Once the mechanism
has a clear overview of the areas that are currently insufficiently covered, together
with its partners, it can prepare an appropriate workplan for immediate
implementation and future development.
36.
Following visits, the members of the visiting delegation prepare partial reports that
are summarized by the head of delegation. Visit reports are subsequently submitted to the
respective authorities, as well as to the head of the place of deprivation of liberty concerned,
the addressees of the recommendations, the members of the Civic Consultative Body and
the Hungarian member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The visit reports are subsequently made
available to the public in Hungarian and, where funding allows, translated into English.
37.
The Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights publishes its annual reports
and the national preventive mechanism visit reports on the Commissioner’s website.
However, the Subcommittee was informed that the process of drafting and publishing the
mechanism’s reports could be lengthy, owing to a desire to ensure a high-quality and
comprehensive end product. The Subcommittee highlights that extended delays in drafting
and publication of visit reports can have a negative impact on the timely follow-up to the
visit report recommendations and, eventually, on the overall conditions of detention of
persons deprived of their liberty.
7