Experts propose new chapter for National Plan of Action on Human Rights

A group of experts drafted and submitted for approval a new chapter for the National Plan of Action on Human Rights. The chapter focuses on torture combating. The recommendations are based on the study “Combating of torture and other inhuman or degrading treatments in Moldova” that was made within the Torture Prevention Project, which is financed by the EU and co-financed and implemented by the UNDP, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the press service of the UNDP. According to the study, the detention conditions at police stations do not meet the national and international standards. A large number of persons complain about the use of force and maltreatment in remand centers. The authors of the study say that Moldova, as the other countries that subscribed to international conventions banning the use of torture, must take measures to prevent and combat the use of torture, punish the offenders and compensate the victims. The cases of maltreatment and attempts to hush up cases of torture, inhuman, brutal and degrading treatment of the prisoners are worrisome. It is recommended adopting actions that will help root out this phenomenon by ensuring the observance of the rights of the detainees, including creating appropriate detention conditions in the quarantine and lock-up cells and reviewing the mechanisms for challenging disciplinary penalties by prisoners. The experts say the situation in psychiatric institutions is alarming. Many persons are kept there without a court decision and are subject to inadmissible treatment. The authors of the study recommend creating a patient defense service, reviewing the status of the hospitalized persons, training the personnel and monitoring how the rights of the patients are observed. The UNDP says that a low number of cases concerning the use of torture and rehabilitation of the persons subject to torture are now examined in courts. This is due to the fact that the judiciary is not independent, there is insufficient training in torture-related matters, the ECHR decisions over article 3 are not implemented. The recommendations were included in a new chapter that was presented to the authorities for approval. “We are convinced that other stipulations included in the draft Plan for 2010-2013 will help prevent and combat torture and there will be no need to submit special proposals in this respect. Both the employees of detention institutions and other related professional groups must be trained so that they better understand the mechanism for preventing and combating torture and other inhuman treatments,” said Victor Zaharia, the leader of the team of experts.