Report on the visit to Cyprus carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 23 September to 1 October 2013
Published December 2014
The report highlights that the CPT’s delegation received a number of allegations of physical ill-treatment by police officers, mostly in respect of foreign nationals. The alleged ill-treatment occurred after apprehension, during transportation or in the context of interviews at a police station; it consisted primarily of slaps, punches and kicks to the head and body. The allegations mainly concerned members of the Immigration and Aliens’ Police (YAM) and of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and in a few cases the delegation was able to gather medical evidence that was consistent with the allegations. In addition, a few patients also alleged police ill-treatment during transportation to Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital. (…)
As regards foreign nationals detained under aliens’ legislation, a number of allegations of physical ill-treatment and verbal abuse of detainees by custodial staff at the Menoyia Detention Centre were received. The report refers to allegations of the inappropriate use of tear gas within the Centre and the Cypriot authorities are asked to put in place comprehensive procedures concerning the use of tear gas. Recommendations are also made to reduce the official capacity of the Centre, to introduce a range of purposeful activities and to develop the role of the staff. In addition, the lack of health-care resources is criticised as well as the lack of a systematic medical assessment upon admission and medical confidentiality. (…)
The CPT’s delegation met two unaccompanied minors held in police stations for prolonged periods in conditions akin to solitary confinement. The Committee recommends that unaccompanied children, who are deprived of their liberty as a last resort, are only held in centres designed to cater to their specific needs, staffed with properly trained men and women and offering a range of constructive activities. Further, all unaccompanied minors should be provided with a guardian. The CPT also recommends that women with children are only detained in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort for the shortest possible time, and that the primary-carer and the child should be accommodated together in a facility catering to their specific needs. (…)
CPT Full Report:
http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/cyp/2014-31-inf-eng.pdf
Response of the Government of Cyprus to the CPT report:
http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/cyp/2014-32-inf-eng.pdf
