Macedonia: The prison conditions in Macedonia, in particular for ethnic Albanian young adults who are citizens of Macedonia (1999-July 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 15 August 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MCD35199.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Macedonia: The prison conditions in Macedonia, in particular for ethnic Albanian young adults who are citizens of Macedonia (1999-July 2000), 15 August 2000, MCD35199.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad6a14.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the prison conditions in Macedonia is scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
In a 1 June 2000 report on human rights in the OSCE Region, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF-HR) described the conditions in prisons and detention facilities in Macedonia as follows:
The conditions in a prison in Idrizovo, near Skopje, amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment. The poor conditions were not only attributed to the poor economic situation in Macedonia. The prison regiment was repressive and there were virtually no opportunities for reeducation or social reintegration. The heating was inadequate or completely lacking; food and hygiene conditions were sub-standard; there was no hot water, and prisoners were permitted to shower rarely and in big groups. No laundry facilities were available and the prisoners' uniforms, shoes and bed linen were inadequate.
Physical force was used as a punishment to "bring prisoners back to their senses." Prisoners were also sent to solitary confinement as punishment, where the conditions were inhuman. The cells were too small and lacked heating and toilet facilities. In addition, the reasons for sending prisoners to solitary confinement were disputable and prisoners were not informed of the decision in writing.
In Idrizovo, there were no adequate premises for free time activities. Adequate medical care and treatment for drug-addicted prisoners were not available.
The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) carried out a mission to Macedonia to observe prison conditions, but the report had not been published as of this writing. The reports by the Helsinki Committee in Macedonia to the government were received without reaction.
The section on Macedonia of the Country Reports states the following:
Prison conditions meet minimum international standards.
The Government permits prison visits by human rights monitors and the Human Rights Ombudsman. The Government agreed to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit prisons under procedures which the ICRC finds acceptable, but has not yet agreed to commit to those procedures in a binding, written agreement with the ICRC (2000).
No information on prison conditions for ethnic Albanian young adults who are citizens of Macedonia, could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. 2000. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF-HR). 1 June 2000. Human Rights in the OSCE Region: The Balkans, the Caucasus, Europe, Central Asia, and North America, Report 2000.
[Accessed 8 Aug. 2000]
Additional Sources Consulted
Three oral sources did not reply within the time constraints.
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International (AI)
Balkan Human Rights Web Pages
British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG)
Christian Association for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT)
Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH)
Freedom in the World 1999-2000
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
International Crisis Group (ICG). Macedonia's Ethnic Albanians: Bridging the Gulf.
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Transitions
World News Connection (WNC)
Search engines including: