Amnesty International is voicing concern about torture inspections that found degrading treatment of inmates in New Zealand prisons.
The human rights group is now calling on the Government to take further steps to prevent torture and ill-treatment.
Four reports by Crimes of Torture Act inspectors from the Ombudsman's Office were released for the first time yesterday, months after the Herald had first requested them.
The reports on Arohata, Manawatu, Invercargill and Otago prisons detailed degrading treatment of prisoners including filming during strip searches, bullying and victimisation by other prisoners, sleeping in ``deplorable'' accommodation, drinking discoloured tap water and wearing dirty clothes.
In one case, an Otago Corrections Facility prisoner whose hands were restrained behind his back almost constantly for 10 weeks was found to have suffered ``cruel and degrading'' treatment.
Amnesty International New Zealand executive director Grant Bayldon said everyone had a right to humane conditions of detention.
``We are concerned at these findings from New Zealand prisons. It shows that nowhere in the world, not even in New Zealand, are people totally free from the risk of torture and other ill-treatment.''
Mr Bayldon said the Government had a responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil human rights.
``This includes taking effective steps to prevent acts of torture and other ill-treatment.''
He said all complaints or reports should immediately be investigated, and ``those responsible held to account''.
Greens Corrections spokesman David Clendon said the findings were ``nothing new, sadly'', but the corrections system had to change.
He said the reports shed light on the penal system's faults.
``I think it reveals that the dysfunction in our corrections system is pervasive ...There are serious human rights shortcomings, and it shows our system is not working. We're making prisons less safe for the staff too.''
Corrections Minister Judith Collins has been approached for comment.
