CELPL - Annual report - 2019

In 2019, the CELPL—an independent body attached to the Ombudsman—continued its mission to prevent torture and inhuman treatment in all places of detention in Luxembourg, such as prisons, the detention center, psychiatric facilities, and UNISEC. The year was marked by a clearer separation between the mediation service and external oversight, a commitment to innovation (data analysis, a matrix of international standards, tools for tracking recommendations), and a strengthening of the 24/7 on-call system to respond quickly in the event of a serious incident. The report also describes several significant missions: the publication of the report on UNISEC, an in-depth analysis of the issue of narcotics in prisons, and a follow-up mission to the detention center. Opinions were also issued on restraint measures at the CHNP and on the reform of youth protection.
 
The CELPL also addressed various incidents during the year, including a death in a correctional facility, serious tensions between an inmate and staff, and numerous instances of isolation or restraint, which it documents through detailed statistics. It draws attention to persistent challenges: the excessive use of handcuffs on minors, difficulties in follow-up care after placement at UNISEC, discrimination in certain residential facilities, and legal gaps regarding restraint measures in healthcare facilities. Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of establishing a clearer legal framework in Luxembourg, strengthening the use of data to improve practices, and continuing to guarantee the dignity and fundamental rights of all persons deprived of their liberty.