TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN UKRAINE

Torture and ill-treatment of children in Ukraine300 g. of milk and 1 egg in two days. At present the ration does not allow forcheese.It should be noted that for adults and minors held in SIZO; ITT and receptionand distribution units of the Interior Ministry, the same food norms are setdown (Norm No. 3), however minors held in SIZO are in addition to this normissued 15 g. of animal fat and 10 g. of sugar per day.The particular features involved with placing minors in SIZO, giving them walks;carrying out educational work; organizing general education activities; specific useof penalties and serving terms in punishment cells are set out in the Rules 38 .Minors in SIZO are placed in separate blocks; sections or storeys. The periodfixed for their daily walk is two hours as opposed to one hour for adults,with this including those being held in a punishment cell where solitary confinementis allowed. If a minor is placed in a punishment cell, this may not befor more than 5 days (for an adult the maximum is 10 days).There are a good many comments about the conditions in Ukrainian SIZOin the media, including from representatives of State bodies. For example, theDeputy Head of the State Department for the Execution of Sentences Y. Zemlyanskystated that the conditions in the Simferopol SIZO do not comply withinternational norms”. “I can say with complete authority that the current conditionsfor keeping children in a SIZO do not comply with the Convention onHuman Rights or declarations”. He said that SIZO were built 200 years ago, andthe block for minors — during Soviet times when there was no mention ofhuman rights. “Just as under the Tsar and in Soviet times, children continue tosleep on bunks, and not on beds”. According to Mr Zemlyansky’s data, thereisn’t even enough bed linen; nor textbooks; literature; seasonal clothing. For 22cells there are only 7 televisions, and there are no sports training machines. Hesaid that children are outside in fresh air for only 2 hours. They walk on the roofand the rest of the time are inside and it’s therefore difficult to create properconditions for existence in cells” 39 He also noted that “In the Simferopol SIZOthere are around 100 minors. This is the only SIZO in Ukraine where the managementhas provided school education for all those wishing to receive it”.38 “Rules on holding people remanded in custody and convicted prisoners in SIZO of theState Department for the Execution of Sentences and “Rules of Behaviour in SIZO of people remandedin custody and convicted prisoners, adopted by State Department for the Execution ofSentences Order from 20.09.2000 No. 192.39 http://www.restin.crimea.ua/article.php?id=38439108