Report on the Performance of Activities of the National Preventive Mechanism for 2016 Accessibility elements for overcoming height barriers are provided only by Glina State Prison. Even though there is a staircase already at the entrance to the building, only several prisons have installed adjacent ramps. Disabled persons who are unable to use the staircase have no access to fresh air and are prevented from engaging in activities available to other prisoners, for example accessing visiting premises or cafeteria. Sanitary facilities in dormitories are mostly inaccessible, including shower cubicles. People who move with the help of a wheelchair cannot use phone booths, because they are positioned at an inadequate height. A positive example is given by Pula County Prison which introduced necessary modifications and which disposes of a room equipped with sanitary facilities, situated on the ground floor, completely adjusted to accommodate disabled prisoners. On the ground floor, there is also an infirmary, visiting premises, cafeteria and a chapel, which they can also easily access. Entrance to the new building of Glina State Prison, its corridors and upper floors are almost completely accessible. Each of the six departments provides one room with sanitary facilities accessible to disabled persons, a library, a cafeteria, as well as premises where leisure programmes are held, IT workshop room, visiting premises, common room and a walkway. It has been noted that Glina State Prison has adopted a good practice of engaging prisoners“assistants” for assisting disabled prisoners, who help them perform everyday activities and overcome difficulties in exercising rights that other prisoners have, which is a practice that should be introduced into other penal institutions as well. Given that architectural inaccessibility of prison system for disabled persons may result in degrading treatment of prisoners, which may have the characteristics of inhuman treatment, it is essential that all penal institutions render entrance to the building accessible, equip the ground floor with at least one room intended for accommodating disabled prisoners, with a toilet and bathroom, and enable them to use the walkway. Conditions under which children responsible for a criminal offence or misdemeanour are deprived of their liberty In order to examine conditions in which children responsible for a criminal offence or misdemeanour are accommodated, we visited two prisons in collaboration with Ombudswoman for Children. Both prisons have a separate room for minors; however, in Split County Prison, it is in dilapidated condition, with sanitary facilities area not being partitioned, which means that prisoners’ privacy is being invaded; in addition, there is no ventilation or sound insulation. A positive example is Šibenik County and State Prison, which provides minors with a room that is airy and neat and equipped with sanitary facilities separated by a wall. Given that accommodation conditions of minors in prison system may result in degrading treatment and produce a traumatizing effect as well as that minors are a vulnerable group, it is necessary that these facilities be renovated and adjusted to their specific needs, at the same time meeting international standards. 19