1- What is SIRECOVI?

It’s a system of documentation and communication aimed at the protection of victims of institutional violence.

SIRECOVI operates when a communication arrives to the Observatory of the Penal System and Human Rights (a research centre of the University of Barcelona) informing that someone has allegedly suffered ill treatment or torture in places of deprivation of liberty (e.g. prisons, police stations, juvenile detention centres, or migration detention facilities) or in the framework of demonstrations or detentions in public spaces, produced by law enforcement officers.

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2- Who created and is responsible for SIRECOVI?

SIRECOVI has been created and its managed by the Observatory of the Penal System and Human Rights.

Therefore, the SIRECOVI belongs to the University of Barcelona (UB): "The University of Barcelona presents this important tool and thus fulfils its accountability to society and knowledge transfer on the effective protection of human rights" (UB’s Vice-Chancellor)

Read more (Catalan)

3- What is a system of documentation, alert, and communication?

Once the OPSHR receives a complaint, the team will follow a series of steps in order to document and act regarding its individual case, including getting the consent of the affected.

Next, on a case-by-case basis, the OPSHR will communicate the information to national and international public institutions and social organisations warning them of the situation and asking them to initiate actions aimed at the protection of the victim.

The SIRECOVI is not a procedural mechanism and can’t be part in criminal or civil trials.

Read more (Spanish)

4- Who can report about cases of ill-treatment?

The information received by the Observatory may come from the victims themselves, their families or friends, lawyers, witnesses, or from human rights organisations.

The information can be given through the Form available in this webpage (see “Report it!), visiting personally the OPSHR or by contacting by phone (934024417) or e-mail: alertasirecovi@ub.edu.

Report it!

5- With which institutions does the SIRECOVI communicate?

The selection of organizations depends on the special features of the case and the will of the victim.

In cases of serious risk for the victim, the law authorizes to communicate the case to the Ombudsman (Síndic de Greuges) and to the Judge immediately even before registration. The rest of institution can be contacted by the OPSRH are:

List of organisations (Spanish)

6- What is expected from the SIRECOVI activation?

A quick response from public institutions and social organizations directed to the institutions responsible for the alleged abuse requesting information or specific actions for the protection of the victim.

The Institutions and organisations, according to their competencies can ask for information / explanations, they can also request for measures to protect the victim such as, for example: to ask for the transfer of the victim to another centre or place, to allow the victim to be visited by external organisations, to have an independent medical visit and report, or to be visited by a lawyer to follow the case.

7- How is done the following up of the case?

SIRECOVI will inform of all actions to the victim and their families of persons related which informed about the case, and also to the organisations and institutions about new situations that may occur.

All communications are centralised by the System and are confidential. Every person should give to the OPSRH the consent in order to be contacted and informed and the victim should give express consent for these communications and actions.

8- What is the institutional violence database?

Once a case is documented by the SIRECOVI it will be part of an internal database.

The data will be processed only by the OPSHR from the University of Barcelona in accordance with the data protection laws and establishing appropriate security measures to safeguard the privacy of victims.

9- Why a map of cases?

We consider very important to be able to public display the cases of human rights abuse in Catalonia. The mapping of the case will be done only with consent of the victim and will remain anonymous.

The OPSHR will periodically publish reports and statistics, encouraging public debate regarding human rights violations in Catalonia.

10- What organizations collaborate and support the project?

SIRECOVI has the express support of United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on Torture.

It is also supported by other public institutions such as the Barcelona City Council, the Catalan Council of Bar Associations, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), and the Euro - Latin American Network for the Prevention of Torture and violence institutional (RELAPT)

See more (Spanish)

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report it!

IF YOU HAVE SUFFERED INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE OR YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN VICTIM, LET US KNOW ABOUT IT AND WE WILL STUDY THE CASE.

From this section you can report your case. In order to be able to process your information properly, it is necessary that you first read the following “right to information” and the contents of the “Form”. If you are agree, please click the box to accept these conditions and then you will be able to fill the Form. After receiving information, we will study the case and then we will contact you.

Right to Information

We inform you that in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of April 27, 2016, regarding the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and the free circulation of these data and repealing of Directive 95/46 / EC (General Data Protection Regulation), personal data collected through the following form will be treated with the purpose of managing complaints about institutional violence received by the Observatory of the Penal System and Human Rights (OSPDH) of the University of Barcelona, generating an internal database, guaranteeing its safety by following the procedures set out in the European data protection regulations. In addition, data will also be treated with the purpose of managing the subsequent communication of data to the competent organizations or institutions. These organizations or institutions that could receive the information are:

International Level

  • United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
  • United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“SPT”)
  • European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Council of Europe – CPT)
  • World Organisation Against Torture
  • European Observatory of Prisons
  • Euro – Latin American Network for the Prevention of Torture and Institutional Violence.

State Level

  • National Prevention Mechanism against Torture (NPM, Spanish Ombudsman)
  • Spanish Association for the Prevention of Torture.
  • Rights International Spain
  • Spanish Pro Human Rights Association (APDHE)
  • Malla. Support network against repression

Catalan Level

  • Sindic de Greuges de Barcelona (Barcelona Ombudsman)
  • Síndic de Greuges (Catalan Ombudsman and Catalan National Preventive Mechanism against Torture)
  • Iridia. Centre for Humans Rights Defence.
  • SOS Racisme
  • International Amnesty
  • Penitentiary Judge
  • General Direction of Penitentiary Services
  • Guardia Urbana de Barcelona (Local Police)
  • Police General Direction, Mossos d´Esquadra (Catalan Police)
  • Catalan Parlament Comissions
  • Spanish Government Delegation in Catalonia
  • Christians Action for Torture Abolition of (ACAT)
  • Solidary Alert
  • Catalan Association for Human Rights Defense (ACDDH)
  • Justice and Peace (JiP)
  • Prison Health Programme (ICS)
  • CIRE
  • Tanquem els CIE
  • Duty Courts

Data Controller General Secretary’s Office of the University of Barcelona
Purpose Manage your complaint and publish your case on the website anonymously
Lawful basis Subject’s consent, which can be revoked at any time without retroactive effects. The personal data is required to accomplish the mentioned purpose
Recipients of your personal data The recipient of your personal data is the University itself and those in charge of processing your data on behalf of the University, if applicable. In case of serious risk for the victim, the judicial authorities. Your personal data will also be sent to competent organizations and institutions which will be chosen attending to singularities of each case. The list of these institutions is published on the website where you can fill the form
Rights You have the right of access, right to rectification, right to erasure your data, right to request data portability and restriction of processing
Additional information You can read the additional information about the cited processing at the following URL: Additional information

Remember that in order to complete the following Form you must first check the box at the bottom of the page, accepting the conditions explained above.

INFORMANT

Informant:*
Who gives you the information?*

IDENTIFICATION CONCERNED AND FACTS ALLEGED

Situation at the moment of the facts:*

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By checking this box you state that you have read the previous right to information and that by clicking the "SEND" button you give your consent to process your data by the Observatory of the Penal System and Human Rights and to transfer it to the organizations listed above.

If you don’t want that your personal data are transferred to any of the above-mentioned organizations, please indicate below the specific name of the institution:

In case you are the victim of the facts, by checking this box you are giving your consent to, anonymously, publish your case in the web page of the SIRECOVI.