Country

Estonia

Detention issue

Sanitary conditions

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Imprisonment Act (Vangistusseadus)The prisoner is given the opportunity to have a sauna, bath or shower at least once a week and upon reception into prison. Prisoners are provided with hairdressing and barber's services. The prison service may impose coercion to ensure compliance with hygiene requirements if a prisoner fails to take care of his or her personal hygiene to a necessary extent and this has brought about actual danger to his or her health or to the health of other prisoners.
Internal Rules of Prison (Vangla sisekorraeeskiri)The cell includes toilet facilities. When the cell is intended for the use by multiple persons, the toilet facility is separated by a wall or is located in a closed room.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2017NPM pointed out after the visit to Tallinn prison, that privacy should be guaranteed at the washing and shower facilities and that all the prisoners should have access to shower at least twice a week. Report details
2018The Chancellor of Justice (Õiguskantsler) expressed the following concerns after an inspection visit to the Rakvere detention house: It cannot be considered satisfactory that it is possible to observe the hygiene corner of the cell from the windows of the cells of the Rakvere detention house. The Chancellor of Justice has repeatedly pointed out that in such a situation the detainee's right to dignified treatment and privacy may be violated. Report details
2020The Chancellor of Justice made the following recommendation about Valga detention house: The hygiene corner is not sufficiently separated from the rest of the cell in all cells of the Valga detention house. If there are several detainees in the cell, the hygiene corner must be properly separated. Report details