Robles: most prisoners should not be in prison

COUNCIL of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil Robles said yesterday that overcrowding at the Nicosia Central Prisons would be solved if prisoners who shouldn’t be there in the first place were released.
Speaking at a news conference, Robles said his two main concerns were human trafficking and the number of illegal immigrants and debtors imprisoned on the island.
Robles’ mission was to assess the extent to which human rights violations occurred on the island and submit a report to a CoE Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly by the end of September. He concluded his visit to the government-controlled areas yesterday morning and spent the rest of the day touring the occupied north.
Regarding human trafficking, Robles highlighted that the main reasons for this phenomenon were either work or prostitution, adding that the problem was not restricted to Cyprus alone but was faced by all European countries.
He described the evidence on human trafficking in Cyprus as “striking”, and gave as an example the number of women working as ‘artistes’ in cabarets. “Compared to the size and population of the island, I think you show a lot of interest in these matters,” said Robles.
He added that the matter needed closer attention. “In order to deal effectively with criminal circles that operate with human trafficking, legal measures need to be taken for the protection of victims and witnesses, and more concern shown for the victims.”
Regarding the Central Prisons, Robles said prison conditions were “good, with the exception of overcrowding” and described the relationship between prisoners and wardens as “excellent”.
His main concern in this area was the criminalisation of illegal entry or residence in the country and the jailing of debtors, noting that criminal penalties for illegal immigrants had been abolished in most European countries. “Illegal entry or stay of an immigrant in any country is not a crime but an administrative violation,” Robles clarified.
There is a need to create a centre for people seeking asylum and also a centre where people who are about to be deported will be held, he added. “Immigrants whose asylum application has been rejected are not criminals.”
Speaking about people jailed for debts, Robles said the legal framework should be amended in order to terminate this measure.
Asked about his meetings with inmates, he avoided disclosing their content, saying only that most people he spoke to were illegal immigrants who wished to return home or jailed debtors. “In all, not many people were in there for a crime,” hinted Robles. There are currently 187 foreigners in the Central Prisons, almost half of the total inmate population. “If the people who are not meant to be there are not there, then the condition of the prisons would be good,” he added.
Asked whether he would be meeting with Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in the Turkish occupied north, Robles said he would, noting that all his findings would be included in his report.
The Commissioner concluded that all his meetings had been conducted with the full co-operation of the government, in complete transparency and in “very good spirit”. He expressed his satisfaction to Justice Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Lazaros Savvides, at the outcome of his visit, adding, “Cyprus enjoys a high level of democracy”.
Savvides told reporters that the issues of human trafficking, changes to the penal code for illegal immigrants and the creation of centres to house them were under study and would be announced soon.