us by hands and sticks ...”.
In view of the persistence of the allegations regarding ill-treatment by police in various
immigration facilities and police stations in Greece, Amnesty International wishes to reiterate
its call to the Greek authorities to take measures that will enhance safeguards in custody and
immigration detention. Such measures include the ratification as soon as possible of the
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and establish or designate a National Preventative
Mechanism mandated to visit places of actual or possible detention in order to prevent torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and regularly examine the
treatment and condition of persons deprived of their liberty. In March 2012, the Greek
authorities had presented as draft law for public consultation proposing the ratification of
OPCAT and designating the Greek Ombudsman as a National Preventative mechanism but the
proposed legislation has yet to be presented to the Greek Parliament for ratification.
For further information see:
Police Violence in Greece: Not just ‘Isolated Incidents’, EUR 25/005/2012,
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR25/005/2012/en.
Greek authorities must send a strong message against cases of police abuse, EUR
25/010/2012, at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR25/010/2012/en.
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