Ombudsman has received no complaints of inhuman treatment in prisons

The National Mechanism for Torture Prevention of the Ombudsman (MKPT), from January to March 2020, has implemented about 38 visits to the institutions of freedom deprivation, asylum centres and psychiatric institutions.

According to the Lawyer, from March 15, 2020, when the Government of the Republic of Kosovo declared a public health emergency to prevent the spread of COVID -19 pandemic, The MKPT has temporarily suspended visits to prisons and detention centres, based on the principle of “not causing the greatest damage” recommended by the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and the UN Subcommittee for Prevention of Torture.

“However, monitoring the rights of deprived persons has continued intensively through contacts with authorities and accepting complaints from prisoners over the telephone and through other communication opportunities. MKPT was in constant contact with Kosovo Correcting Service ( The SKK) and that they were informed of the SKK's Plan and Operational Order, the Criminal Service Health Plan, which is in line with the recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health and the World Health Organisation. Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic has created tremendous challenges for authorities of all member states of the Council of Europe. The MKPT is in constant contact with the MKPT European Forum (European NPM Forum), where MKPT of various states are constantly exchanging their reaction experiences during pandemic. The United Nations General Assembly set June 26, each year as the International Day in Support of Torture Victims. For marking this date, The Ombudsman's MKPT recalls institutions responsible under 27 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which stresses that, “nobody should be subjected to torture, punishment or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Also, The MKPT also recalled the Parliament's Declaration for Treatment of Persons Deprived of Freedom in the context of the global pandemic COVID-19, published by the European Committee for Prevention of Torture (KPT) on March 20, 2020, which highlights “Recognising the clear obligations to take decisive action to fight COVID-19, the KPT, should remind all acts of absolute nature of torture and dehumanizing and degrading treatment. Defence measures should never result in in inhuman and degrading treatment of persons deprived of their freedom. ” So far the ombudsman, through telephone lines available to those deprived of their freedom, has received no complaints about inhuman or degrading treatment. All complaints received so far refer to early release and parole”, said the communiqué.