Ombudsmen invested with more powers to prevent torture

The Ombudsman or other authorised persons acting on his/her behalf shall periodically tour sites accommodating persons deprived of liberty under the laws and authority of the State. This amendment has been made today to the Ombudsman Law, and the Law on Protection against Torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading punishment or treatment. To provide consultancy and assistance to ombudsmanship as a national mechanism of torture prevention, the Centre for Human Rights shall establish a consultative council consisting of representatives of human rights NGOs. The Council may admit other experienced persons who earned a good reputation. Its members shall be nominated in consideration of the gender equality principle and balance of ethnic minority representation. The draft law also enables ombudsmen to have unrestricted and private meetings, assisted by an interpreter if it is necessary, with convicts, or other persons who, in his/her opinion, could provide relevant information. In addition, the ombudsman can be accompanied during his/her fact-finding visits by independent experts, including lawyers, doctors, psychologists and NGO representatives. To prevent torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading punishment or treatment, the ombudsmen shall issue recommendations to improve the attitude towards convicts, detention conditions and prevent torture. Under the draft law, in case the ombudsman disagrees with the response actions, he/she has the right to address the superior body so as to enforce the execution of the recommendations. The Government of Moldova lost at least five cases at the European Court of Human Rights for maltreatment.