Is it possible to ensure the human rights in imprisonment institutions?

Darbe keliama hipotezė, kad laisvės atėmimo bausmės atlikimas įkalinimo įstaigoje gali būti pagrindu riboti žmogaus teises, pasitvirtino. Darbo tikslas – išsiaiškinti, ar laisvės atėmimo bausmės atlikimas įkalinimo įstaigoje gali būti žmogaus teisių ribojimo pagrindu. Objektas – asmenų, atliekančių laisvės atėmimo bausmes įkalinimo įstaigose, žmogaus teisės, jų užtikrinimo ir ribojimo pagrindai. Plačiau išnagrinėtos tos žmogaus teisės, dėl kurių galimų pažeidimų sulaukiama daugiausiai skundų. Įkalinti asmenys nepraranda jiems garantuojamų žmogaus teisių. Jie turi visas asmenims numatytas teises, laisves ir pareigas, tačiau su apribojimais, bei specialiąsias teises ir pareigas, kurių neturi nenuteisti asmenys. Teisėtas žmogaus teisių apribojimas yra tuomet, kai būtina apsaugoti kitų asmenų teises. Nereikėtų pamiršti, kad laisvės atėmimo bausmės tikslas – apsaugoti visuomenę nuo nusikaltimų. Kriminalinės bausmės riboja žmogaus teises ir laisves, todėl jų taikymas bei įgyvendinimas išimtinai priklauso tik valstybės kompetencijai. Nuteistiesiems laisvės atėmimo bausme turėtų būti sudaromos sąlygos, kurios būtų kuo artimesnės teigiamiems gyvenimo visuomenėje aspektams, nežemintų žmogaus orumo. Jų nesudarymas gali būti pripažintas kankinimu ar kitokiu nežmonišku elgesiu. Tačiau teisinių sankcijų sukelti ar nuo jų neatskiriami bei atsitiktinai jų sukelti skausmai ar kančios negali būti laikomi kankinimu. Įkalinimo įstaigose laisvės atėmimo bausmes atliekančių nuteistųjų skundų, keliaujančių ne tik į nacionalines institucijas, bet ir į tarptautines, nuolat auga. Nuteistieji dažniausiai skundžiasi užimtumo laisvės atėmimo vietose nebuvimu, sveikatos priežiūra bei laikymo sąlygomis. Judėjimo laisvė kompensuoja patiriamus nepatogumos dėl įkalinimo įstaigų perpildymo. Be to, sąlygos yra pamažu gerinamos. Įkalintiems asmenims privaloma užtikrinti tokį patį gydymo lygį ir kokybę, kaip ir laisvėje esantiems asmenims. Išsamūs ir konkretūs teisės aktai leidžia daryti išvadą, jog tai užtikrinama. Atliekant laisvės atėmimo bausmę svarbus prasmingas jos laiko leidimas. Lietuvos įkalinimo įstaigose yra sudaromos galimybės mokytis, dirbti bei užsiimti įvairia kita veikla. Siekiant įgyvendinti darbo tikslą ir uždavinius, buvo naudoti šie metodai: istorinis, mokslinių šaltinių analizės, sisteminis, aprašomasis, analitinis, lingvistinis, lyginamasis, apibendrinimo.The hypothesis of the paper stating that a sentence of imprisonment may create the basis for restriction of human rights has been proven true. Imprisonment facilities do ensure human rights, yet with certain legitimate restrictions. Limitations of human rights must be provided for by law, aimed at legitimate targets set by law, be necessary in a democratic society and proportionate. Closer analysis has been carried out in relation to most common human rights subject to violation complaints. Persons sentenced to imprisonment should be provided with conditions that are as equal to positive aspects of life in society as possible, and do not diminish human dignity. Article 21 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania establishes that „[i]t shall be prohibited to torture, injure a human being, degrade his dignity, subject him to cruel treatment, as well as to establish such punishments.” Execution of criminal sentence is the State’s function involving implementation of elements of punishment, such as restriction of rights and freedoms as well as special rights and responsibilities imposed on a sentenced person. Safe for the mandatory restrictions related to imprisonment, guaranteed human rights rest with all prisoners. Persons serving imprisonment sentence are not deprived of all rights completely. They enjoy all rights, freedoms and responsibilities granted to people, with certain restrictions, and special rights and responsibilities not imposed on unconvicted people. Legitimate restriction of human rights is practiced when other persons’ rights need to be protected. Such restriction must meet the following criteria: provided for by law, aimed at legitimate goals, following the principle of proportionality – legitimate goals cannot be reached by measures that are less restrictive. It should be remembered that imprisonment sentence is aimed at protecting the society against crimes. Article 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania establishes that „[w]hile implementing his rights and freedoms, the human being must observe the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and must not restrict the rights and freedoms of other people.” Legislators and society put noticeable pressure to practice stricter imprisonment systems, introduce more restraints, enhance security of imprisonment facilities. The State is under obligation to establish a balance between security needs of the society and measures of correction assurance for the sentenced persons. For example, Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights establishes that „[n]o restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.“ Legal liability intrinsically is the administration of justice. Enforcement measures (including criminal penalties) practiced by the State restrict human rights and freedoms, and the State has the prerogative of practicing and administering such measures. As such, each State has developed a certain system of penal execution systems to execute penalties and punitive measures. Although human rights are governed by modern international law and protected on the international level, the rights and responsibilities of an individual predominantly are and will be governed by the country’s legal norms and assured by State authorities. Effective judicial system is one of the key legal institutional guaranties assuring fundamental human rights. In Lithuania’s case, there is a track record of the continuously increasing number of complaints filed at national and international institutions by persons serving sentence of imprisonment. Besides inadequate actions by officers at imprisonment facilities, prisoners’ special rights, social rehabilitation, incentives to the sentenced persons, prisoners generally complain about absence of occupational engagement in imprisonment facilities, health care and imprisonment conditions. Failure to provide imprisonment conditions assuring a person’s honour and dignity may qualify as torture or other inhuman treatment. Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibits torture - „[n]o one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.“ However, pain and torment inflicted by legal sanctions, inherent to them or caused by them incidentally cannot be classified as torture. Lack of funding is not a justification for imprisonment conditions that violate human rights. One of the most common reasons for prisoners’ complaints is inadequate imprisonment conditions (failure to assure compliance with living space norms and inadequate hygienic conditions). It is recommended that prisoners are provided with possibility to stay outside the living premises for long time and engage in meaningful activities. Freedom of movement offsets the discomforts incurred due to prison overcrowding. Moreover, conditions are being gradually improved. Prisoners must be assured the same level and quality of medical treatment as non-prisoners. Comprehensive and concise legislation suggests that this has been assured. It is important that persons serving imprisonment sentence engage in meaningful activities. Its key components are education, labour, and organized leisure activities. Lithuanian imprisonment facilities provide possibilities for studies, work, and engagement in a number of other activities.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta