Ombudsman carried out a visit to the Treatment Facility of Penitentiary Service

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva carried out a visit without prior notice to the Treatment Facility of the Ministry of Justice Penitentiary Service within the framework of National Preventive Mechanism.

The purpose of the visit, organized on the basis of the OPCAT and the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman, was to investigate detention conditions and treatment issues, and the status of ensuring the rights of detainees, as well as the received appeals.

Within the framework of the visit the Ombudsman monitored the treatment corps, departments and wards, got acquainted with the health status of patients, heard them in private, invesigated the current situation of rendering medical care, supply of medicaments, nutrition, receiving parcels, walking, visitation, telephone calls.

The Ombudsman received numerous convicts in a confitential manner in the facility on a random basis in order to investigate the treatment issues and got acquainted with conditions of detention, treatment, medical assistance, meeting and other issues; a number of issues were resovled on the spot.

The issues raised during the private reception and meeting were investigated, several accused persons complained about investigation and court proceeding on their cases. Each of the received persons were legally consulted; complaints adressed to the Ombudsman were received.

Within the framework of the visit, the NPG members, including a physician-member, monitored the implementation status of recommendations made during previous visits.

It is needed to organize effective psychological and social services in the facility.

In conclusion, the Commissioner held legal educational discussions with the administration, medical staff and authorized staff members of the facility. She made relevant recommendations with regard to strengthening control over effectively ensuring access to  medical services in accordance with national and international legislation, including European Prison Rules, elimination of shortcomings reflected in the appeals related to admission to the facility and improvement of detention conditions.