Country

France

Detention issue

Sanitary conditions

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Standard rules of procedure for detention establishments (Règlement intérieur type des établissements pénitentiaires, annexé au décret n°2013-368 relatif aux règlements intérieurs types des établissements pénitentiaires)Each detainee must be able to have access to a shower at least three times per week.
Code of Criminal Procedure (Code de procédure penale)Sanitary facilities must be suitably distributed in all types of detention facilities and their number proportionate to the number of prisoners. Toilets are part of the fixtures of a cell.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2015The NPM recommends the provision of a free hygiene kit containing essential items for personal hygiene and the installation of showers within cells. Report details
2018Toilets are part of the fixtures of a cell, therefore, each cell contains a toilet. In this regard, the Controller general of detention facilities has stated that 'the most frequent breach of privacy mentioned by detainees relates to the use of the toilets in the cell. In the best of cases, the toilets are separated from rest of the cell only by a partition or a door with a height of approximately one metre, and which therefore does not go up to the ceiling. Therefore, when the cell is shared the detainee has to use the toilet in the immediate vicinity of fellow detainees and in the same single space which is also used for sleeping and eating. The justification for this breach of the privacy of detainees is related to security: the detainee must be able to be observed in all parts of the cell by guards through the peephole in the door. Report details
2020The NPM recommends that detainees shall have easy, permanent and independent access to a separate toilet and a drinking water point, both day and night. The use of substitutes (urinal, sanitary bucket) is not acceptable. Detained persons shall have access to a toilet at all times, in conditions that preserve their dignity and privacy. Basic hygiene products adapted to their age, gender and state of health must be offered to them. Persons deprived of their liberty may have access to a shower, particularly before a hearing or an interview. Report details