CAT/C/CR/32/3
page 3
(b)
The fact that, to date, there have been no prosecutions or convictions for alleged
crimes pursuant to article 176 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes acts of torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
(c)
The reported lack of prompt and adequate access by persons deprived of their
liberty to legal and medical assistance and to contact with family members;
(d)
In connection with asylum-seekers and illegal immigrants:
(i)
The poor conditions of detention of those held in the Jezevo Reception
Centre for Foreigners, including poor hygienic conditions and limited
access to recreational activities;
(ii)
The alleged cases of violence against those held in the Jezevo Reception
Centre for Foreigners and the lack of prompt and impartial investigations
into this matter;
(iii)
The deprivation of their liberty for prolonged periods of time;
(e)
The alleged failure of the State party to address the issue of violence and bullying
between children and young adults placed in social care institutions;
(f)
The alleged failure of the State party to prevent and fully and promptly investigate
violent attacks by non-State actors against members of ethnic and other minorities;
(g)
The poor regime for remand prisoners, who spend up to 22 hours a day in their
cells without meaningful activities.
D. Recommendations
9.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Take effective measures to ensure impartial, full and prompt investigations
into all allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the
prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators as appropriate and irrespective of their
ethnic origin, and the provision of fair and adequate compensation for the victims;
(b)
Ensure full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), inter alia by ensuring that all indicted persons in their
territory are arrested and transferred to the custody of the Tribunal;
(c)
Enforce all relevant legislation providing for the protection of witnesses and
other participants in proceedings and ensure that sufficient funding is allocated for
effective and comprehensive witness protection programmes;
(d)
Make judges, prosecutors and lawyers fully aware of Croatia’s international
obligations in the field of human rights, particularly those enshrined in the Convention;