A/HRC/16/52/Add.5
funding was supposed to have been made available by 18 September 2009; however,
despite the fact that both the national Constitution and the Constitution of Bougainville
establish certain rights for detainees, including to be treated with humanity and respect for
the inherent dignity of the human person, no progress has been made in constructing a
facility. This was confirmed by the Chief Administrator of Bougainville.
D.
Persons with disabilities and diseases
63.
The detention facilities visited by the Special Rapporteur offered little or no medical
care. Persons held in police custody had no access to medical attention, regardless of
whether they were there for their own protection or in detention. At the Bomana
correctional institution, the Special Rapporteur found several detainees receiving treatment
in the hospital; however, they were locked up without the presence of a doctor, nurse or
guard. In addition, several detainees stated that the treatment and medication available was
insufficient and eight detainees had died in 2009 from different illnesses. At the Baisu
correctional institution, the medical facilities had been closed down because no health
worker was available, and detainees had no access to the local hospital.
64.
With regard to psychiatric attention, Laloki Psychiatric Hospital, which is very old
and run-down, is the only facility in the country for persons with mental disabilities. A new
development plan had been adopted but no funds were available for the new project. The
Special Rapporteur was unable to speak to the detainees in the closed wing for security
reasons (as claimed by the medical personnel). The hospital does not have adequate staff,
and the Special Rapporteur was informed during his visit that there was no permanent
resident psychiatrist, and that only two psychiatrists visited the hospital one day per week.
65.
Psychiatric support in detention facilities did not comply with international
minimum standards. Psychiatric evaluations were not performed on a routine basis or in an
independent and professional manner; as a result, many detainees with both physical and
mental disabilities in correctional institutions and police lock-ups have no access to
adequate medical treatment and rehabilitation. At the Mount Hagen and the Buka police
stations, the Special Rapporteur found detainees with mental disabilities locked in police
cells. In Buka, one detainee had been held for 18 months, without ever having had access to
a psychiatrist or a lawyer. At the Baisu correctional institution, at least five mentally ill
detainees were held together with the general population.
66.
The Special Rapporteur also found that Papua New Guinea lacks a proper forensic
system capable of assuring timely and adequate examinations of victims of torture and illtreatment. Prompt and complete forensic autopsies in compliance with international
standards were also lacking.
E.
Juveniles
67.
The Police Juvenile Justice Policy and Diversity Protocol is an excellent tool to deal
with juveniles in conflict with the law; unfortunately, it is for the most part not applied.
Although it declares that police cells should only be used in extreme circumstances, the
Special Rapporteur interviewed juveniles in all police stations visited, and did not come
across any where juveniles were separated from adults. Additionally, the juvenile reception
centre in Boroko was not in use owing to alleged attempted escapes. The Special
Rapporteur was concerned that, even though UNICEF had provided a substantive amount
of funding to build the reception centre, it had not been informed of its closure. During his
visit to the Goroka police station, no juveniles were being held at the juvenile reception
centre.
14
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