The temperature in your cell should be at a level for you to feel comfortable and to prevent you from falling sick. The temperature must not be too high or too low. 

The air temperature in the living area should not be lower than 18 degrees Celsius. This means that the heating should be provided during cold seasons and proper ventilation should be used in the warm seasons. 

What human rights violation may there be?

Prohibition against inhuman or degrading treatment

Inadequate temperature combined with other negative conditions may lead to a violation of your right not to be treated in an inhumane or degrading way. However, the effect that such conditions have on your physical or mental condition must reach a certain minimum level of severity. Minor short-term deviance from the normal temperature will most probably not violate your rights.

example If the temperature in the cell is only 16˚C for a week or it reaches 25˚C for a short time, this most likely will not be a violation of your rights. However, if you are regularly forced to live in a cell at 12˚C, it may violate your rights.

Read more about how to evaluate whether your rights have been violated.

How to complain

If you believe that your rights have been violated, you should complain to the prison administration. Read more about how to complain.

Resources

Last updated 24/06/2018