In fulfilment of its constitutional mission to protect human rights, the Ombudsman attended the meeting of the National Council for the Rights and Protection of Children. During his speech, the Ombudsman raised concerns about the fact that the Police have not guaranteed procedural rights for detained minors.
“In some cases, minors were not held in separate rooms, were interviewed without the presence of parents or psychologists, and were questioned outside legal hours. Likewise, minors with signs of violence were found in police stations, and these had not been examined”, said Shabani.
The Ombudsman welcomed the fact that the Police have responded following reports from the institution, but stressed that these violations must be addressed by holding those responsible accountable and taking measures to ensure they are not repeated. Shabani added that the Police must preserve their integrity and public trust, so that they are not seen as a force to be feared, but as a guarantor of public safety.
“This battle between street violence and the force of the state can be won in the short term by force, but in the long term it is won only with legitimacy, and for this, force must be necessary and proportional”.