Ombudsman: Special Report on the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and Ill-treatment (2022 – 2023)

On 11 February 2025, the Ombudsman published his special report (available here in Greek) on the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and Ill-treatment (reference years: 2022 and 2023). 

In this report, the Independent Authority presents the findings of the individual inspections conducted of detention facilities, as well as its specific actions, institutional interventions and relevant developments, with the aim of addressing and preventing unlawful phenomena of torture and ill-treatment in penitentiary establishments and detention centres by the state authorities.

According to the Ombudsman’s briefing, the National Prevention Mechanism carried out a series of inspections of penitentiary establishments, police and port detention centres, pre-removal detention centres for foreigners and involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation units. During the period covered by the report, the first full inspection of the entire Korydallos prison complex was carried out and the resulting findings coincide with those of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). 

Regarding the inspection findings, the Ombudsman points out that the problems in the penitentiary establishments are long-standing, focusing on the consequences of overcrowding, the inadequacy or complete lack of basic services, as well as the unsuitability of the existing infrastructure. Regarding developments in the institutional framework, the Independent Authority refers to the establishment of a special remedy for detention conditions, but also to the introduction of stricter conditions for licensing and transfer to Rural Correctional Facilities.

These duties of the Ombudsman are carried out on the basis of Law no. 4228/2014 (Government Gazette 7/Α/10.1.2014), which ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). This special competence of the Ombudsman is exercised by regularly examining the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and making corresponding recommendations for improvement.