18 July 2022
The Protector of Citizens, symbolically, on the birthday of the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, which, by the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly from 2010, is marked as International Nelson Mandela Day, in recognition of his contribution to the culture of peace and freedom, published a report on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in 2021.
During 2021, the NPM made 86 visits to places where persons deprived of their liberty are or may be located. Numerous police departments and police stations within their composition were visited, as well as detention units, prisons, psychiatric clinics and wards in general hospitals, social welfare homes, reception centres for migrants, transit zones at international airports and military facilities. Also, 12 oversights were carried out over the forced removal procedures of 23 foreigners. A total of 245 recommendations were issued, of which 242 were from reports on visits to places where persons deprived of their liberty are or may be located, and three recommendations from the area of supervision of the forced removal of foreigners.
Like the previous one, this reporting period was also marked by a large number of thematic visits that the NPM carried out in order to examine and determine the situation in certain areas. In this regard, the NPM carried out visits to monitor the treatment of migrants at the borders, monitor the implementation of the United Nations Rules on the treatment of women prisoners and non-custodial measures for women offenders, known as the Bangkok Rules, to monitor the treatment of persons apprehended and detained, monitor the handling of the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), which were sent to the Republic of Serbia after the visit in 2017, etc. During the reporting period, the NPM developed a special methodology for visits to institutions for the enforcement of penal sanctions, with the aim of checking for the existence of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. For the first time, during the visits, the NPM exclusively focused on the implementation of measures to maintain order and security in the institution, the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the closed departments of the institution, and the method of documenting injuries of a person during the enforcement of the sentence.
The report presented findings and general and individual recommendations for improving the situation in this area and highlighted activities that must be undertaken in order to ensure a more effective fight against torture and improve the protection of human dignity.
The report represents another contribution to building a society without torture, a society in which the physical and psychological integrity and dignity of every citizen is respected, in every situation, without exception and regardless of the circumstances.
 NPM Annual Report 2021 |
