ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥ Νεοφύτου Βάμβα 6 (3ος όρ.), 106 74 Αθήνα Τηλ: 210-7233221, 210-7233216, fax:210-7233217, e-mail: info@nchr.gr Detention Conditions in Police Stations and Detention Facilities for Aliens Ι. Introduction The National Commission for Human Rights (hereinafter NCHR) addressed for the first time the question of detention conditions in 20011 based on the Report of the CPT after its ad hoc visit in Greece in 1999. In 2002, it addressed new recommendations to the competent Ministries on the basis of the CPT Report after its visit in 2001, the observations of CAT, the observations of the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights after its visit in Greece in 2002 and the responses of the competent Greek authorities.2 In 2004, the NCHR recommended the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.3 In 2008, the NCHR issued an extensive report titled “Rights of Detainees and Detention Conditions in Greek Prisons”,4 whereas in February 2010 it commented the Draft 5th and 6th Periodic Report of Greece regarding the implementation of the Convention against Torture.5 The NCHR, based on secondary sources –reports of international and national monitoring bodies, reports of international and national NGOs- decided to focus on: a) detention conditions in police stations, b) conditions in detention facilities for  Adopted at the Plenary Session of the NCHR of 29.04.2010. Rapporteurs: Professor L.-A. Sicilianos, Vice-President of the NCHR and L.-M. Bolani, Legal Officer at the NCHR. 1 NCHR, “Recommendations regarding Conditions of Detention in Greece”, Annual Report 2001, pp. 143 seq. [in Greek]. 2 NCHR, “Detention Conditions in 2002”, Annual Report 2002, pp. 249 seq. [in Greek]. 3 NCHR, “Decision regarding the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment via OPCAT”, Annual Report 2003, pp. 245 seq. [in Greek]. 4 NCHR, Annual Report 2007, pp. 71 seq. 5 NCHR, Annual Report 2009, pp. 106 seq. [in Greek]. 1