October 18, 2014

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee publishes report on Greece

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Strasbourg, 16.10.2014 – The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today the report on its eleventh visit to Greece, which took place in April 2013, together with the response of the Greek authorities.

The visit took place two years after the CPT had issued a public statement in which it had expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of effective action to tackle systemic deficiencies concerning the conditions of detention of irregular migrants and the situation in the prisons. Regrettably, the findings of the 2013 visit demonstrate clearly that the situation has not improved. Further, the problem of ill-treatment by the police appears to be growing and there is little evidence that allegations of ill-treatment are investigated promptly and thoroughly, leading to some police officers believing they can act with impunity.
In the course of the 2013 visit, the CPT’s delegation visited 25 police and border stations as well as eight immigration and coast guard detention facilities, where it examined the treatment and conditions of detention of irregular migrants detained under Aliens legislation. Attention was also paid to the treatment of persons apprehended by the police. Further, the delegation examined the situation in seven prison establishments, including the provision of health care and the programme of activities offered to inmates.

Source: http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/grc/2014-10-16-eng.htm