Unacceptable living conditions in Greek Detention Centers Lack of appropriate shelter and overcrowding International standards, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment inter alia require that detainees shall be treated with humanity and respect for their dignity.25 According to the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners the accommodation provided “shall meet all requirements of health” including the provision of adequate sanitary installations, hygiene articles, clothing, food, and exercise in the open air. 26 However, living conditions in all three detention centers where MSF worked fall below these international standards. MSF patients in the detention centers of Pagani, Venna and Filakio often raised concerns about living conditions during individual counseling sessions. Thirty six percent (36%) of MSF patients complained about the poor hygiene conditions, 35% complained about overcrowding in the cells, 17% about the insufficient quantity of food, and 18% about not being allowed in the yard. Inappropriate facilities are often used as detention centers for migrants. Both Venna and Pagani detention centers are old warehouses, which are not fitted for human habitation. Both buildings are old and run down and do not have sufficient insulation. During the summer and winter months it can get extremely hot or cold. The heating system often breaks down and no cooling system is available. During February 2010 in Venna detention centre, with outside temperatures reaching several degrees below zero, the heating system did not function for a number of days. The cells do not receive enough natural light or fresh air. Even in Filakio detention center, which is the newest facility, most cells face an internal corridor and have neither enough natural light nor ventilation.27 According to Rule 10 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, “All accommodation provided for the use of prisoners and in particular all sleeping accommodation shall meet all requirements of health, due regard being paid to climatic conditions and particularly to cubic content of air, minimum floor space, lighting, heating and ventilation.” According to the Greek legislation the minimum living space per detainee should be at least six square meters and cells should be equipped with adequate furniture: beds, tables, chairs. Mothers with infants should be detained in especially adapted facilities.28 However, at times of overcrowding detained migrants had less than one and a half square meters living space. The number of beds was insufficient and people had to sleep on dirty mattresses on the floor. Moreover no other furniture was available in the cells. Overcrowding was a persistent problem in Pagani detention center. Between August and October 2009, the number of migrants detained in Pagani detention center exceeded the capacity of the center fourfold surpassing 1,200 people.29 Almost half of the detained migrants were women and children, among them many unaccompanied minors. Overcrowding was also a concern in Filakio detention center during March and April 2010.30 In addition to cells being frequently overcrowded, the structure of the facilities deprived detained migrants of private space, which contributed to tensions and anxiety. MSF patients reported cases of bullying and physical violence among detained migrants. At times patients asked MSF staff to mediate for them to be transferred to a different cell. Police staff was usually responsive to these requests. © MSF 9