The CPT’s delegation reviewed the progress made by the Croatian authorities in respect of its previous recommendations made after its 2017 periodic visit. Particular attention was paid to the treatment and the conditions of detention afforded to male and female prisoners held in four prison establishments. The delegation also examined the treatment and legal safeguards afforded to persons deprived of their liberty by the Croatian Police. In addition, the delegation visited three psychiatric establishments and two social care homes in order to assess the situation of patients and residents accommodated therein.
In the course of the visit, the CPT’s delegation held talks with Davor Božinović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Ivan Malenica, Minister of Justice and Public Administration, Terezija Gras, State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Josip Salapić, State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, Tomislav Dulibić, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Marija Pletikosa, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy as well as with senior officials from the same Ministries and of the State Commission for the Protection of Persons with Mental Disorders.
The delegation also held exchanges with representatives of the Office of the Ombudsperson of the Republic of Croatia and National Preventive Mechanism, the Croatian Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities and various NGOs.
At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the authorities of Croatia.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
- Alan Mitchell, President of the CPT and Head of Delegation
- Slava Novak
- Gordan Kalajdjiev
- Alexander Minchev
- Aleksandar Tomčuk
- Chila Van der Bas
They were supported by Christian Loda, Francesca Gordon and Kelly Sipp of the CPT’s Secretariat and assisted by Patricia Gilheaney, former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Ireland and Tomáš Petr, mental health nurse, Czech Republic.
The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Interior
- Rijeka Police Station I
- Rijeka Police Station II
- Split Police Station I
- Split Police Station II (Bačvice)
- Headquarters of the Požeško-Slavonska County Police Administration
- Zagreb Detention and Escort Unit (Oranice)
- Zagreb Police Station III (Dubrava)
- Zagreb Police Station IV (Maksimir)
- Zagreb Police Station VI (Novi Zagreb)
- Velika Gorica Police Station
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration
- Lepoglava Penitentiary
- Požega Penitentiary (sections for female prisoners)
- Požega Prison (focussed visit on latest arrivals)
- Zagreb Prison
- Zagreb Prison Hospital
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Health
- Ugljan Psychiatric Hospital
- Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre (KBC) of Rijeka
- Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre (KBC) of Split
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
- Mirkovec Branch of the Adult Home Zagreb
- Stančić Centre for Rehabilitation
