Europe and Central Asia Summary of Amnesty International’s Concerns in the Region, January-June 2007 are promptly, thoroughly, independently and impartially investigated. On 6 February, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) made public its concluding observations on Hungary´s compliance with the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture). The CAT expressed its concern at the length of the initial pre-trial detention phase (up to 72 hours), at ongoing pre-trial detention on police premises and the high risk of illtreatment which it entails and greatly regreted that pre-trial detention of up to three years is provided for under the Criminal Procedure Act. In addition, the CAT was concerned that minors were held with adults during pretrial detention and noted that the need for them to be held separately should be included in the Draft Penitentiary Code. It also expressed concerns at allegations that fundamental legal safeguards for persons detained by the police or Border Guard staff, including the rights of access to a lawyer and medical examination, are not being observed in all situations. The CAT also noted with concern the allegations of excessive use of force and illtreatment by law enforcement officials, especially in the course of or in relation to apprehension. It expressed its concerns at reports that law enforcement officers did not carry identification badges during the Budapest demonstrations, which made it impossible to identify them in case of a complaint of torture or ill-treatment. The number of reports of ill-treatment by law enforcement agencies, the limited number of investigations carried out by the State party in such cases, and the very limited number of convictions in those cases which are investigated were also objects of concern to the CAT. The CAT expressed continuing concerns about reports of police ill-treatment of and discrimination against persons belonging to national minorities and non-citizens by law enforcement officials and regretted the lack of information about any assistance Amnesty International 61 provided to victims of trafficking and training of law enforcement personnel and other relevant groups. The CAT observed that all elements of the definition of torture as provided by Article 1 of the Convention against Torture are still not included in the Criminal Code. Update on the Case of Ángel Mendoza (see AI Index: EUR 01/001/2007) Charges relating to an alleged attack on police officers by Ángel Mendoza and his 14-year-old friend during the demonstrations of September 2006 were withdrawn in March. They were both detained on the night of 20 September in Budapest, when they were trying to return safely to their building, close to where the main demonstration was taking place. They were both sent to the 10th District police station on Harmat Street and detained there. While Ángel Mendoza and other detainees were waiting in the in the reception of the police station, a group of policemen arrived and reportedly started to insult them and hit them with batons. According to medical reports, Ángel Mendoza’s nose was broken and one rib seriously damaged. The case against the police officers involved in the reported illtreatment against Ángel Mendoza and the other detainees is still on-going. Both Ángel Mendoza and his friend were represented by the human rights organization Hungarian Helsinki Committee. Conditions of detention Detention of asylum-seekers and noncitizens As part of its February review (see above), the CAT expressed concern at the detention policy applied to asylum-seekers and other non-citizens, including reports that they often face lengthy periods of detention, including in the context of the so-called “alien policing procedure”, with detention for up to 12 months in alien policing jails maintained by the Border Guard service. AI Index: EUR 01/010/2007