CAT/C/ALB/CO/2
24.
The Committee is concerned about information that 502 out of 661 Albanian Roma
street children went reportedly missing following their placement during 1998-2002 in
Aghia Varvara children’s institution in Greece. The Committee is particularly concerned
about the lack of effective efforts by the authorities of the State party to prompt effective
investigations into cases of so called disappearance of Roma children by the relevant
authorities of Greece (arts. 2, 11, 12 and 14).
The Committee urges the State party to immediately engage with the Greek
authorities with a view to promptly creating an effective mechanism to investigate
these cases in order to establish the whereabouts of the missing children, in
cooperation with the Ombudsmen of both countries and relevant civil society
organizations, and identify disciplinary and criminal responsibilities of those involved,
before the charges may become time-barred.
Blood feuds
25.
While taking note of the State party’s information about the decline in incidents of
revenge killing vindicating honour outside the regular legal system, the Committee
expresses concern that this practice still remains entrenched in certain parts of the society,
in particular due to the prevalence of deeply rooted stereotypes of defending and restoring
family honour lost as a result of the initial murder.
Recalling the recommendations by the Human Rights Committee and the Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Committee
recommends that the State party take further measures, including research and
awareness-raising campaigns, to extinguish a belief in the practice of vindicating
honour outside the regular legal system and to investigate such crimes and prosecute
and punish all perpetrators of such acts.
Identification of members of intervention groups in prisons
26.
The Committee is concerned at reports that members of special intervention groups
in prison establishments are not obliged to wear identification badges showing their proper
identification during the exercise of their functions (arts. 12, 13 and 14).
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that members of special
intervention groups display appropriate identification at all times when in contact
with prisoners to prevent ill-treatment and provide for accountability.
Adequate compensation
27.
While noting that article 44 of the Constitution guarantees compensation to persons
who have suffered damage due to illegal action or lack of action by State authorities or its
employees, the Committee expresses its concern at reports that in practice many victims of
torture or ill-treatment by the police officers or other public officials have to resort to filing
a civil suit for compensation (art.14).
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