The main objective of the visit was to review the measures taken by the Liechtenstein authorities to implement recommendations made by the Committee after its previous visits. In this context, the CPT’s delegation paid particular attention to the treatment and conditions of detention of prisoners (including the provision of health care), as well as to the safeguards afforded to persons deprived of their liberty by the police. The delegation also visited a nursing home and reviewed the legal safeguards surrounding the involuntary placement of patients in a psychiatric hospital.
In the course of the visit, the delegation had consultations with Thomas ZWIEFELHOFER, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and Economic Affairs, and Mauro PEDRAZZINI, Minister for Social Affairs. Discussions were also held with representatives of the Prison Supervisory Commission (Strafvollzugskommission) as the country’s National Preventive Mechanism established under the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.
At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the Liechtenstein authorities.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
- Anton VAN KALMTHOUT, Head of delegation
- Marie LUKASOVÁ
- Arta MANDRO.
They were supported by Almut SCHRÖDER and Patrick MÜLLER of the CPT's Secretariat and assisted by an expert, Veronica PIMENOFF, psychiatrist, former Head of Department at Helsinki University Psychiatric Hospital (Finland).
The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:
- Vaduz Prison
- Vaduz Police Headquarters
- Vaduz Hospital (secure room for detained persons)
- St. Laurentius Nursing Home, Schaan
- Holding cells at the Vaduz Court Building.
