A/HRC/4/21/Add.1
page 12
consistent with article 14(3) (b) of the Covenant and with Guidelines 1.15, 1.17 and 2.4 of the
Standard Guidelines.
28.
Concerning personal visits, remand prisoners are permitted one non-contact visit per
week of one hours’ duration and one contact visit per month with any children they may have
under the age of 16 years. They remain shackled and manacled during a contact visit with
children for security reasons. Such restrictions on the basis of security are permissible under
Rule 92 of the Standard Minimum Rules. They have also telephone access and are permitted to
make 25 personal telephone calls per week.
29.
With regards to the legal visits, remand prisoners do not have limits on the number of
visits from professionals, except by the conflicting demands of other prisoners to have access
to the contact rooms available for professional visits, in accordance with article 14(3) (b) of the
Covenant. Accordingly, there is a system of booking the contact room to guarantee access.
Lawyers may visit their clients in the Acacia Unit between 8.45 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. Visits are
video monitored for security purposes, but there is no audio sound or recording. Remand
prisoners may make an unlimited number of legal professional calls, and are able to make these
legal professional calls between 8.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. These restrictions are
consistent with Principle 8 of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, Rule 93 of the
Standard Minimum Rules and Guideline 1.17 of the Standard Guidelines.
30.
Concerning the diet of the detainees, section 47 of the Act stipulates that prisoners have
the right to be provided with special dietary food where the Governor of the prison is satisfied
that such food is necessary for medical reasons or on account of the prisoners religious beliefs
or because the prisoner is a vegetarian. Section 47 conforms to Guideline 2.13 of the Standard
Guidelines.
31.
In this context, Halal food is provided to Muslim prisoners and they have the choice of
selecting any item off the prison menu. During Ramadan, Muslim prisoners have the option of
a special food pack. While pork is included in the general Barwon Prison menu, it is not
included in the special food pack; however, prisoners may select a food item which specifically
includes pork. Allegations that the remand prisoners were served pork meals have been
referred to the Corrections Inspectorate for investigation.
32.
Regarding mental health, all prisoners are medically assessed, including psychiatric
assessment, on entering prison, which accords with Rule 24 of the Standard Minimum Rules.
As to the question of complaints being lodged or not, the Corrections Department of the State
of Victoria has advised that complaints have been lodged by the alleged offenders and are
being investigated.
33.
The Government of the State of Victoria indicated that whilst the group has been in
custody, there have been a number of registered incidents, complaints and allegations.
Allegations of threats made by remand prisoners towards corrections staff have been
investigated and formally resolved at the Prison Governor’s Disciplinary Hearings. Allegations
of assault and threats made towards the remand prisoners have been referred to Victoria Police
for investigation. Under Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Government is unable to
provide any details of medical examinations without the express written consent of the
individual affected by them.