A/HRC/16/52/Add.5
taken out of his cell because of the odour from his injury; because of the lack of even the
most basic medical care, his foot would probably have to be amputated.
56.
The overall impression of the Special Rapporteur regarding police lock-ups was one
of negligence. Although the Boroka police station had clean cells and detainees received
sufficient water and food, conditions in the Goroka and the Mount Hagen police stations
were particularly appalling, reflecting total disregard for human dignity. For this, the
Special Rapporteur recommends that the Mount Hagen police stations be closed
immediately.
57.
In some of the police lock-ups visited, including the Kundiawa and the Mount
Hagen police stations, the Special Rapporteur was shocked to see that the authorities did
not have the keys to all of the cells, posing a very serious safety concern. In the Boroka
police station, on the other hand, the Special Rapporteur was able to enter the lock-up and
speak to some of the detainees, including women, without any keys. This clearly confirmed
the allegation that women were often not separated from men in police custody and in
danger of sexual and other abuses.
2.
Correctional institutions
58.
The Special Rapporteur was pleased at the strict separation of men from women in
correctional institutions. Juveniles were, in principle, kept separate as well. Those held in
remand and convicted prisoners were held in separate sections, but could mingle during the
day. At the Bomana correctional institution, persons convicted to death were kept together
with other detainees.
59.
The conditions in correctional institutions were generally poor. Most institutions
were overcrowded, particularly high-risk and remand sections, as were punishment and
detention cells. At the Bomana and the Baisu correctional institutions, most detainees kept
in detention cells were escapees who had been severely beaten, shot or had their tendons
cut upon recapture. They were deliberately denied access to medical attention and kept in a
cell for up to three months. At the Baisu correctional institution, on 13 April 2010, 84
detainees escaped. Two of the detainees were later recaptured and had died as a result of the
severe beatings to which they were subjected. One died immediately after being shot, while
the second died a few days later in the detention cell, after he was denied access to medical
attention. The two deaths were confirmed by the authorities.
60.
The lack of medical attention also affected many other detainees, and the poor
sanitary conditions facilitated the spread of contagious diseases. In most correctional
institutions, very few sections had running water or mosquito nets. There were also not
enough beds or mattresses, and food was insufficient and of very low nutritional value.
61.
In principle, correctional institutions in Papua New Guinea provided prisoners with
opportunities for work. At the Baisu correctional institution, however, detainees had no
opportunities for work, education or other forms of recreation, and were locked in their
cells for up to 18 hours a day. In the Bomana, Barawagi and Mukrumanda correctional
institutions (the last of which only held four detainees), detainees were allowed to be
outside their cells for longer hours than in Baisu, although not many possibilities for work
or recreation were available. The best practice example was the Bihute correctional
institution, where the opportunities available for detainees allowed for a real possibility of
rehabilitation.
62.
In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the police lock-ups in Buka, Arawa and
Buin were used to hold convicted prisoners, because the only prison had been destroyed
during the armed conflict. On 18 August 2009, Justice David Cannings issued a court order
requiring the State of Papua New Guinea, through the Secretary of Finance and Treasury, to
make funds available urgently to establish a correctional institution in Bougainville. The
13
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents