A/HRC/30/19 or inadequate access to, medical treatment,71 insufficient mental health services,72 lack of health-care professionals in places of detention,73 failure to implement effective harmreduction programmes and drug-dependence treatment.74 Overcrowding has also been found to be a root cause of entirely preventable medical conditions. 75 19. There are also various factors associated with overcrowding that contribute to the denial of the right to health, such as poor natural light and ventilation in places of detention,76 extreme temperatures,77 poor hygiene and sanitation standards,78 insufficient provision for personal hygiene,79 and infestation with insects and vermin.80 Ultimately, infringements on the right to health may adversely impact on the right to life of detainees. 81 D. Right to food, water and sanitation 20. The Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation emphasized that the lack of access to sanitation can be tantamount to inhuman or degrading treatment in certain circumstances, especially in the context of detention. The Special Rapporteur noted that overcrowding in places of detention can seriously hinder the ability of the authorities to ensure safe drinking water and proper sanitation. 82 21. The Special Rapporteur on the right to food has highlighted the frequent infringements upon the right to adequate food of detainees83 and emphasized State responsibility to provide those in detention with adequate food. 84 The Special Rapporteur has also underlined the negative impact of overcrowding on the right to food.85 22. Numerous other United Nations and regional human rights bodies have also reported serious infringements upon detainees’ right to safe water and sanitation, as well as the right to food. These infringements, attributed to overcrowding, include failure of the State to provide adequate quality and quantity of food;86 adequate washing87 and toilet facilities;88 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 8 See CEDAW/C/GRC/CO/7, para. 34; CAT/C/BLR/CO/4, para. 19; CAT/C/ECU/CO/3, para. 24; CAT/C/GAB/CO/1, para. 17; and CAT/C/LKA/CO/3-4, para. 14. See A/HRC/23/41/Add.2, para. 40, and CAT/C/AUS/CO/4-5, para. 11. See CAT/C/GRC/CO/5-6, para. 14, and CAT/C/PER/CO/5-6, para. 10. See A/65/255, para. 29. See A/HRC/25/60/Add.1, para. 54, and www.achpr.org/files/sessions/12th-eo/missionreports/promotion_mission-2012/mission_report_mauritania_cpta_eng.pdf, para. 76. See CAT/C/MDA/CO/2, para. 18; A/HRC/22/53/Add.2, para. 47; and Tibi v. Ecuador, InterAmerican Court of Human Rights Judgement (2004), para. 150. See A/HRC/25/60/Add.1, para. 44, and CAT/OP/BEN/1, para. 180. See CAT/C/PER/CO/5-6, para. 10; CAT/C/SYR/CO/1, para. 30; and CAT/C/LKA/CO/3-4, para. 14. See A/HRC/25/60/Add.1, para. 54. See CAT/OP/BEN/1, para. 218; CAT/OP/BRA/1, para. 105; www.achpr.org/files/sessions/12theo/mission-reports/promotion_mission-2012/mission_report_mauritania_cpta_eng.pdf, para. 76; and Council of Europe document CPT/Inf (2015) 12, para. 66. See CAT/C/TGO/CO/2, para.13. See A/HRC/12/24, paras. 45-47. See A/HRC/25/57/Add.1, paras. 70-72, 83(n), and A/HRC/22/50/Add.2, paras. 12-14. See A/HRC/22/50/Add.2, para. 13. See also CAT/OP/MEX/1, para. 112. See A/HRC/25/57/Add.1, paras. 70, and A/HRC/22/50/Add.2, para. 14. See CAT/C/BLR/CO/4, para. 19; CAT/C/BGR/CO/4-5, para. 21; CAT/C/KHM/CO/2, para. 19; CAT/C/GAB/CO/1, para. 17; CAT/C/MAR/CO/4, para. 19; and A/HRC/22/53/Add.2, para. 66. See www.achpr.org/files/sessions/37th/missionreports/ethiopia/misrep_specmec_priso_ethopia_2004_eng.pdf, p. 20; A/HRC/25/60/Add.1, para. 54; and Council of Europe document CPT/Inf (2014) 26, para. 110.