Criticism Levelled at German Penitentiary System by Regulatory Body
Sure thing, buddy. Let me rephrase that for ya:
Prisons can be real rough around the edges. Sometimes, they overstep the boundaries and disregard a person's human dignity. Two jails in Germany, specifically in Saarland and Baden-Württemberg, have been called out for this.
The National Prevention Mechanism against Torture has voiced concerns about certain prisons and mental health facilities in Germany, according to their annual report. In two separate cells, each in these two prisons, inmates were forced to share a tiny 9-square-meter space with just a communal toilet, which lacked spatial separation, as reported in the annual report. "This situation is degrading for the affected inmates and results in inhumane living conditions," the report read.
The National Prevention Mechanism against Torture falls under the umbrella of a UN anti-torture convention. Their job is to keep an eye on fundamental rights being respected in all facilities across Germany where individuals are deprived or could potentially be deprived of their liberty. This includes places like stationary border controls.
The annual report also pointed out instances where individuals in mental health facilities were confined to rooms without access to a toilet. In a mental health facility in Baden-Württemberg, for example, patients were provided with bedpans and urine bottles for their personal needs. Due to video surveillance, the use of these items was visible to all.
The report also brings up the issue of deportations. In one instance, authorities deported a man from Nigeria despite a court order. Regularly, the national body discovers that the well-being of children is overlooked in deportation cases, particularly during mass deportations, which could result in children being separated from their parents.
The National Prevention Mechanism against Torture, being part of the UN anti-torture convention, raised concerns about the Court of Justice in its annual report, as it overlooked fundamental rights in certain cases within German prisons and mental health facilities. The Court of Justice, in some instances, failed to uphold the human dignity of individuals, resulting in inhumane living conditions.
