“The PDDH reports that it has conducted or contributed to monitoring places of deprivation of liberty. The PDDH further reports that all visits to these places were announced for security reasons.  

The SCA notes that the PDDH advised that its recommendations resulted in detainees’ access to safe drinking water, natural light, fresh air, food and medicines. While the SCA acknowledges that, in some circumstances, it may be necessary to provide notice for reasons such as security, it is of the view that an NHRI should conduct unannounced visits to all places of deprivation of liberty within its jurisdiction as these limit opportunities for detaining authorities to hide or obscure human rights violations and facilitate greater scrutiny.  

The SCA recommends that the PDDH conduct unannounced visits to all places of deprivation of liberty in a timely, regular, and/or ad-hoc manner in order to effectively monitor, investigate, and report on the human rights situation in these places. It further recommends the PDDH to undertake systematic follow-up activities and advocate for the consideration and implementation of its findings and recommendations by the State authorities to ensure the protection of persons deprived of liberty.”