17/01/2022 10:15

The walls of the cells are damp and covered with fungus, fire safety violations, the medical unit does not have the necessary medicines: the results of the monitoring visit to the Kyiv pre-trial detention center and the medical unit

As part of the implementation of the national preventive mechanism, employees of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Valeria Baturynska, Serhiy Konoplyasty, Hanna Yatsyuk and Ruslan Morozov made repeated monitoring visits to the Kyiv Remand Prison Institution and the Kyiv City Health Center. State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine ”in Kyiv and Kyiv region in order to study the state of observance of the rights of convicts and detainees.

During the visit, the members of the monitoring group got acquainted with the conditions of detention, documentation and conducted a sample survey of persons held in the institution. It should be noted that the recommendations to address the shortcomings identified by the staff of the National Preventive Mechanism during the previous visit in March 2021 have been partially implemented. In particular, the pre-trial detention center underwent repairs in the cell premises, promenades, baths, medical unit, production facilities of the bakery and 2 residential sections of the social and psychological service department, where convicts left in the penitentiary institution live.

However, during the visit the monitoring group identified a number of violations of the requirements of national legislation and non-compliance with international recommendations and norms in the field of treatment of convicts and detainees.

In particular, most cameras do not have adequate artificial lighting, the windows are excessively barred. In some cells, the walls are damp and covered with fungus, and the beds are located close to each other, which does not provide personal space for prisoners. Most cells are not equipped with supply and exhaust ventilation, which does not provide adequate ventilation of the cells and can lead to the spread of infectious diseases among detainees.

Compliance with the state of fire safety in the institution is carried out in violation of the requirements of the Safety Rules. In most cells, many of the sockets used by prisoners are in poor condition, the wiring is bare, and the wires are uninsulated, endangering the lives and health of detainees.

Also during the monitoring visit it was established that the State Institution "CPC DKVS of Ukraine" partially took measures to implement the recommendations of the previous visit, in connection with which the institution continues to violate the rights of detainees to health care and medical assistance.

In particular, the pharmacy of the medical unit is not provided with the necessary medicines for the treatment of sick prisoners. Medical staff do not conduct periodic medical examinations of prisoners. The premises of the medical unit need to be repaired. In most rooms of the medical unit there is no hot running water supply.

In violation of the State Sanitary Rules and Norms "Hygienic requirements for the installation and operation of X-ray rooms and radiological procedures", approved by the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine from 04.06.2007 № 294 available in the medical part X-ray room operates without a passport.

Based on the results of repeated monitoring visits to these institutions, reports will be sent to the relevant authorities, indicating the identified violations of prisoners' rights.