CAT/OP/HUN/2 I. Introduction 1. In accordance with its mandate under articles 11 and 13 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment undertook its first regular visit to Hungary from 21 to 30 March 2017. 2. The Subcommittee was represented by Mari Amos (head of delegation), Arman Danielyan, Nora Sveaass and Aneta Stanchevska. The Subcommittee was assisted by three human rights officers from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations security officers and interpreters. 3. During the visit, the Subcommittee conducted visits to places of deprivation of liberty, including police stations, remand centres, immigration detention centres, secure asylum centres, correctional educational establishments for juveniles, psychiatric and forensic institutions and penitentiary hospitals (see annex I). The Subcommittee held meetings with the relevant domestic authorities, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, the national preventive mechanism, members of civil society and the Regional Representative for Central Europe of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (annex II). 4 Meetings held with representatives of the national preventive mechanism and of the Civic Consultative Body provided the Subcommittee with the opportunity to discuss the national preventive mechanism’s mandate and working methods and to explore ways to increase its effectiveness. In order to better understand how the mechanism works in practice, the Subcommittee also visited a place of deprivation of liberty chosen by the members of the mechanism. The visit was led by those representatives, with the members of the Subcommittee acting as observers. 5. At the conclusion of the visit, the delegation presented its confidential preliminary observations orally to the domestic authorities. The Subcommittee will send a separate confidential report to the domestic authorities, in which it will make recommendations to the State party. 6. The present report sets out the observations and recommendations of the Subcommittee addressed to the national preventive mechanism of Hungary. The recommendations are made in accordance with the Subcommittee’s mandate to offer training and technical assistance and to advise and assist the mechanism, in accordance with article 11 (b) (ii) and (iii) of the Optional Protocol. The present report remains confidential unless the mechanism decides to make it public, in accordance with article 16 (2) of the Optional Protocol. 7. The Subcommittee draws the attention of the national preventive mechanism to the Special Fund established pursuant to article 26 of the Optional Protocol. Recommendations contained in visit reports that have been made public may form the basis of an application for funding for specific projects through the Special Fund, in accordance with its rules. 8. The Subcommittee wishes to express its gratitude to the national preventive mechanism of Hungary for its assistance and cooperation during the visit. II. National preventive mechanism 9. Hungary acceded to the Optional Protocol in 2012 with a declaration under article 24, postponing the establishment of its national preventive mechanism for three years. In October 2012, the Subcommittee was notified that, as of January 2015, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights would perform the function of national preventive mechanism. The Commissioner was confirmed in the role of official national preventive mechanism of Hungary under chapter III/A of Act CXI of 2011, with effect as of January 2015. 3

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