by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the
Commission and Council
(19 March
2002)
Subject: Ill-treatment of minors in Albanian prisons
|
E-0880/02EN
Answer given by Mr Patten
on behalf
of the Commission
(25 April
2002)
The Commission takes allegations of ill-treatment and torture very seriously.
The Union has underlined its determination to tackle the issue in the "Guidelines
to EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment" which were adopted by the General
Affairs Council in April 2001. These guidelines refer, inter alia, to the need for special protection
for children in this context.
The Commission has pointed out on several occasions that Albanian prisons
and detention systems need to be improved, especially as far as prisoners on
remand are concerned, and that Albanian law enforcement bodies should be better
acquainted with their human rights obligations, and implement them. It has also
underlined the deficiencies of the Albanian judicial system and the need for
Albania judges to address human rights cases properly. All these institutional
weaknesses affect also minors in detention.
The Commission is taking every opportunity to stress the importance for
Albania to properly address the above issues. It will continue to strees the
need to pay particular attention to the treatment of minors brought to justice
and to underline that this treatment should meet international standards during
the whole process (arrest, trial, detention).
The Commission provides specific financial support to address issues
related to the detainees’ conditions and the respect of their rights, including
awareness-raising and training programmes for the police, the judiciary and other
target groups, which should help progressively to improve the standards applied
in places of detention, including to minors.