Also, 83 letters were drawn up and sent to other institutions / organizations /
associations involved in monitoring the treatment of persons deprived of liberty: nongovernmental organizations and bars within the National Association of Romanian Bars (in
order to inform the NPM about the situations of violation of human rights and ill-treatment of
persons deprived of their liberty, of whom they become aware during the course of their work);
courts of appeal (requesting information on the procedure of involuntary hospitalization: trial
on the merits and on appeal of the measure of involuntary hospitalization, ensuring the
participation and hearing of the patient in court, as well as ensuring the patient's defense, ex
officio, if they don’t have an attorney).
On 13 April 2020, following the example of the Subcommittee on Prevention of
Torture (SPT) and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and
related to the Romanian reality, a set of principles was formulated to be respected by all
relevant authorities responsible for persons deprived of liberty, in order to prevent any acts of
torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment - Declaration of principles on the treatment
of persons deprived of liberty during a state of emergency established in response to the
coronavirus epidemic (Covid-19), posted of the People's Advocate institution.
Following the cessation of the state of emergency, monitoring was carried out both
by alternative means to classic visits, as well as classic visits, where possible, and a
procedure in this regard was developed. For the awareness raising and increasing the efficiency
of the monitoring activity (facilitating the access of persons deprived of liberty to the NPM
teams) were prepared: • press releases regarding the monitoring activity of penitentiaries /
psychiatric hospitals / Covid-19 hospitals / quarantine centers; • questionnaires for persons
deprived of their liberty in penitentiaries / psychiatric hospitals / Covid-19 hospitals /
quarantine centers / homes for the elderly and staff in penitentiaries / homes for the elderly1; •
announcements regarding the monitoring of psychiatric hospitals / Covid-19 hospitals, the
possibility to complete the aforementioned questionnaires and the contact details of the NPM,
communicated to the monitored units to be displayed in accessible places.
During 2020, the NPM carried out 73 monitoring activities in places of detention (43
classic visits - some of the visits aiming to verify the implementation of the recommendations
formulated through previous visit reports and 30 monitoring activities by alternative means
to classic visits):
● Penitentiaries – 13 monitoring activities: Mărgineni Penitentiary; Valu lui Traian
Exterior Section of the Constanța-Poarta Albă Penitentiary; Craiova Penitentiary-Ișalnița
Exterior Section (women); Craiova Pelendava Penitentiary; Bacău Penitentiary; Târgu Ocna
Penitentiary-Hospital; Botoșani Penitentiary; Brăila Penitentiary; Deva Penitentiary; Bistrita
Penitentiary; Satu Mare Penitentiary; Ploieşti Women's Penitentiary Târgșorul Nou; BucharestRahova Penitentiary;
● Detention and Remand Centers – 5 monitoring activities: Caraş-Severin
Detention and Remand Center; Arad Detention and Remand Center; Galati Detention and
Remand Center; Brașov Detention and Remand Center; Prahova Detention and Remand
Center;
● Centers for migrants – 2 monitoring activities: Center for Accommodation of
Foreigners taken into Public Custody Arad; Galati Regional Center for Procedures and
Accommodation for Asylum Seekers;
● Residential centers for children – 3 monitoring activities: Emergency Reception
Center for Children Slatina, Olt County; Emergency reception center for the neglected and
1
questionnaires that can be filled in on the website of the People's Advocate institution and which were also sent
in physical format during the monitoring in penitentiaries, psychiatric hospitals and homes for the elderly
3