Visits to penitentiary institutions were continued during 'Human Rights Month'

During the 'Human Rights Month' declared by the Ombudsman, members of the Ombudsman's National Preventive Group conducted visits to Correctional Facility No. 4 and Open-Type Correctional Facility No. 7 of the Penitentiary Service under the Ministry of Justice.

The main purpose of the visits was to investigate and monitor the detention conditions and the treatment of convicts, as well as the situation of protection of their rights and freedoms.

During the visits, the residential wards, dining halls, and other relevant facilities of the institutions were inspected; furthermore, the detention conditions, medical supply, socio-living standards of the convicts, and matters regarding the fulfillment of their rights were examined.

Concurrently, individual receptions of the convicts were organized, during which their appeals and suggestions were heard, and legal explanations regarding the matters raised were provided.

In the course of the visits, special attention was paid to the status of ensuring the convicts' rights to appeal to the Ombudsman, receive legal aid, maintain contact with family members, and exercise other rights provided by legislation; furthermore, legal awareness-raising activities were carried out.

Furthermore, during meetings held with the management of the institutions, the importance of ensuring the reliable protection of human rights and freedoms, further improving detention conditions, maintaining a sensitive approach to convicts' appeals, and conducting swift investigations into them was emphasized.