The Human Rights League (Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (LDH) took note of the decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that criticizes Belgium for the Vasilescu Affair. It also notes “the absence of successif government’s desire to commit to improving conditions for prisoners“. On Tuesday, the ECHR recommended that Belgium take measures to improve prison conditions It also told Belgium to compensate a former prisoner who was mistreated, Marin Vasilescu.
In its decision, the court indicated problems “stemming from the overcrowding in the Belgian prison system, as well as hygiene and heating, and problems in penitentary establishments, showing a structural problem“, not just affecting the complainants personal situation.
The LDH considers that, therefore, the court indicates “the absence of successif government’s desire to commit to improving conditions for prisoners“. The organisation also points out that the situation has been criticized for years by the United Nations Committee against Torture, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and the International Observatory of prisons.
The associatio reiterates the fact thatthe budget given to the Justice Department by the new government “only risks making the situation worse“. It asks the governement to “review its policy on penitentary expansion and favour penal policies that will help to relieve prisons“. It also remind the governement of its agreement to improve prison conditions.
(Source: Belga)
