Europe (Washington Insider Magazine)— A delegation from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) conducted an ad hoc visit to Switzerland from March 19 to 28, 2024. The visit aimed to evaluate the treatment of individuals deprived of liberty by police and in remand detention facilities across four Swiss cantons.
Focus of the Visit
The CPT delegation examined:
- Measures addressing illegal detention practices identified in the 2021 visit.
- Safeguards against police ill-treatment.
- Solutions to remand detention overcrowding in French-speaking Switzerland.
The visit also assessed progress on recommendations previously issued by the CPT.
Meetings with Authorities
The delegation met with key officials, including:
- Carole-Anne Kast, State Councillor of Geneva’s Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs.
- Vassilis Venizelos, State Councillor of Vaud’s Department of Youth, Environment, and Security.
- Heads of Geneva and Vaud police, prison services, and public prosecutors.
In Bern, the CPT held discussions with Michael Schöll, Director of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), and other federal and cantonal authorities.
Consultations with Stakeholders
The CPT also consulted with:
- Martina Caroni, President of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture (CNPT).
- Members of Geneva and Vaud’s Visitors’ Committees.
- Representatives from Geneva and Vaud Bar Associations.
Facilities Visited
The delegation inspected several detention facilities, including:
Canton of Fribourg
- Cantonal Police Station Les Pilettes
- Central Prison, Fribourg
Republic and Canton of Geneva
- Champ-Dollon Prison, Puplinge
- Police stations at Gare-Cornavin, Pâquis, and Servette
Canton of Valais
- Brig Prison, Glis
- Sion Prison
Canton of Vaud
- Bois-Mermet Prison, Lausanne
- Detention areas of Cantonal and Municipal Police Headquarters, Lausanne
Delegation Members
The visit was led by Nico Hirsch, supported by Vanessa Durich Moulet, Elisabetta Zamparutti, and expert Anne Galinier, former Chief Medical Officer of the Prison Health Service in Marseille.
Preliminary Observations
At the visit’s conclusion, the CPT presented initial observations to federal and cantonal authorities, emphasizing the need for continued reforms and compliance with international standards.
This visit underscores the CPT’s commitment to ensuring humane treatment and adherence to legal safeguards in detention facilities.
