A/HRC/45/CRP.11 296. Former detainees described severe overcrowding. El Helicoide suffered from a lack of water, inadequate plumbing and infestations (rats and cockroaches). The detainees did not have access to clean water for drinking, bathing or cleaning clothes and other items. Detainees’ relatives brought them water, or they purchased it on the prison black market. Former detainees have accused guards of withholding of food and medicine delivered by family members. 297. Two of the largest cells are known as “Guantánamo” and its annex, the “Guarimbero Cell”. Most of the non-political prisoners were held in “Guantánamo” while those arrested around protests or the opposition were held in the “Guarimbero” cell. Both were overcrowded and in extremely poor condition, without access to a bathroom or water. Former detainees informed the Mission that they had to take turns to sleep on the floor. 298. Another cell used for both political and non-political prisoners is known as “Preventivo I”. This cell is under 24-hour surveillance by both cameras and a guard. The Mission’s interviews indicate that this cell’s capacity should be around six prisoners. In one case investigated, the cell held 16 prisoners, including four minors. 299. Interviewees refer to another detention space as “The Stairs” (“Las Escaleras”), a makeshift cell in a stairwell for both political and non-political prisoners. This cell has no running water or bathroom. Detainees each sleep on one of the stairs. The stairwell has a small window allowing some natural light. Former detainees described it as “infested” with rodents and insects. Officers used this cell to beat and commit other torture against detainees while they were handcuffed to the stair’s railings. 300. SEBIN officers use certain cells for punishment. One of these is called the “Little Tiger” (“El Tigrito”737), a dark room measuring approximately 4 x 4 metres with no windows or electric lights. The Mission reviewed several cases in which the “octopus” was used here. The only water available is in the toilet bowl. This room has held more than one prisoner, despite its small size. 301. Another punishment cell is the “Little Bathroom” (“El Bañito”). Former detainees have described it to the Mission as a hot and damp tile-covered room, which previously functioned as a bathroom. At some point the toilet bowl and sink were broken leaving only exposed pipes. Witnesses told the Mission that this room was specifically used to torture detainees, either through acts of violence or isolating them for multiple days. 738 Periodically, SEBIN officers would come in to use the toilets while detainees were in the cell, as described by former judge Ángel Zerpa (see case below). 302. Female former detainees described being held together in one single overcrowded cell. In 2014, female detainees were in one small room, but as the female population grew, they were moved into a larger cell. Unlike most male detainees, female political prisoners and non-political prisoners shared the same cell.739 The female prisoners kept their own plastic containers of water for drinking, bathing, cleaning and using the toilet in their cell. The lack of water disproportionately affected female detainees during menstruation. Despite female guards working within El Helicoide, male officers primarily guarded the female cell. 303. Five female witnesses told the Mission that SEBIN officers engaged female detainees in sexual acts in exchange for goods and privileges.740 These witnesses told the Mission that 737 738 739 740 The Mission has documented a cell with this name in several detention centres, including in the Centro Nacional de Procesados Militares (CENAPROMIL) military prison, known as “Ramo Verde”, in Miranda state, and DEPROSEMIL (Departamento para Procesados Militares) in La Pica prison, in Monagas state. Mission Interview C2EE08 in May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE05 in May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE09 in June 2020. See, for example, Una Ventana a la Libertad, Situacion de los Derechos Humanos de las personas privadas de libertad en los calabozos del Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SEBIN) en el Helicoide y Plaza Venezuela, June 2019, available at: http://unaventanaalalibertad.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/01/UVL-Informe-Sebin-22-junio-2017.pdf Mission Interview C2EE03 in May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE04 in May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE09 in May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE10 in June 2020; Mission Interview C2EE15 in July 2020. 81