The signals received from the beneficiaries of the People’s Advocate Office between March 20 and 27, currently:

Problem: The risk of spreading the epidemic in prisons

Officials of the People’s Advocate Office have been informed that some employees in penitentiary institutions have a fever. They were also informed about the lack of the necessary equipment for the prevention and treatment of the new type Coronavirus in prisons, especially within the penitentiary institution no.16-Pruncul (penitentiary hospital). In this way, there is a risk that the penitentiary institutions will not be able to prevent the spread of the disease, and the civil ones will not be able to ensure the treatment of the infected persons.

Reaction of the People’s Advocate:

On March 23, the Ombudsman requested in an approach sent to the President of the National Commission for Exceptional Situations to examine the opportunity to implement additional measures of protection from COVID-19 of the penitentiary system staff and the prisoners, from the perspective of ensuring the right to life and health.