CAT/C/SVK/CO/2
status. Furthermore, the State party should apply the non-refoulement principle
without any discrimination or exception.
5.
Complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions
9.
While noting that the Inspection Service Office is managed by the Minister of the
Interior and allegedly independent of the police, the Committee is concerned that alleged
unlawful acts committed by the police, including torture and ill-treatment, are investigated
by police officers of the Inspection Service Office. In this respect, the Committee is
concerned that very few complaints against police officers are accepted and investigated
and lead to prosecution and convictions (arts. 12 and 13).
The State party should further strengthen the independence of the Inspection Service
Office by, inter alia, including independent experts drawn from outside the police so
as to ensure that allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment are promptly, impartially, thoroughly and effectively
investigated.
6.
Independent monitoring
10.
The Committee regrets the lack of information on whether there is an independent
body in the State party that has the right to, inter alia, undertake unannounced visits to all
places of deprivation of liberty, including police stations and pretrial detention facilities
(arts. 2, 11 and 16)
The State party should ensure that fully independent monitoring, including
unannounced visits, of all places of deprivation of liberty takes place on a regular
basis. It should also ensure that any mechanism established for this purpose, at the
local or national level, has an appropriate mandate and adequate resources.
7.
Training
11.
The Committee notes the State party’s efforts with respect to training of law
enforcement officers. However, it is concerned at the effectiveness of this training in the
light of the high number of alleged cases of harassment and ill-treatment during both arrest
and police custody, particularly of Roma suspects. It is also concerned that training
programmes for medical personnel for the identification and documentation of cases of
torture in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol may be inadequate (arts. 10 and 11).
The State party should:
(a)
Include in its training modules on rules, instructions and methods of
interrogation information on all provisions of the Convention, especially on the
absolute prohibition of torture;
(b)
Ensure that personnel involved in the treatment of detainees are trained
on how to identify signs of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in
accordance with the Istanbul Protocol, and strengthen the training on the Istanbul
Protocol for all professionals involved in the investigation and documentation of cases
of torture;
(c)
8.
Regularly evaluate the training provided to its law enforcement officials.
Juvenile justice
12.
The Committee is concerned about the conditions of detention for juveniles, such as
solitary confinement for periods up to 10 days, and the placement of juvenile detainees in
pretrial detention together with adults (arts. 11 and 16).
GE.09-46819
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