UN Experts Urge Mongolia to Shift Towards Rehabilitation in Detention Facilities

Elīna Šteinerte, head of the SPT delegation, emphasized the importance of prioritizing rehabilitation and reintegration efforts to safeguard individuals from torture and inhumane treatment.

Following their second visit to Mongolia, a delegation from the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) emphasized the need for Mongolia to move away from punitive approaches in all places of deprivation of liberty and ensure the effectiveness of its independent torture monitoring body.

During their 12-day mission from 5 to 16 May, the delegation conducted unannounced visits to various facilities, including prisons, detention centers, police cells, psychiatric institutions, and care homes for elderly and children. While acknowledging Mongolia's recent designation of an independent national preventive mechanism (NPM) and the implementation of some recommendations, the delegation highlighted the prevalence of punitive systems in detention facilities.

Elīna Šteinerte, head of the SPT delegation, emphasized the importance of prioritizing rehabilitation and reintegration efforts to safeguard individuals from torture and inhumane treatment. She called on Mongolia to view the newly established NPM as a key partner in achieving this paradigm shift.

During the visit, the delegation conducted confidential interviews with detainees and officials, as well as meetings with government officials, civil society representatives, and UN agencies. They also supported the work of the Mongolian NMP through joint visits and workshops.

The SPT will submit a confidential report to the Mongolian government with observations and recommendations on preventing torture and ill-treatment, encouraging the publication of the report as done after the SPT's 2017 visit.

The delegation comprised Elīna Šteinerte (Latvia), Nika Kvaratskhelia (Georgia), Anica Tomsic (Croatia), and Martin Zinkler (Germany), accompanied by two human rights officers from the SPT Secretariat.