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may be inflicted and the authorities competent to impose such punishment shall be specified by
law or lawful regulations and duly published.
2. A detained or imprisoned person shall have the right to be heard before disciplinary action is
taken. He shall have the right to bring such action to higher authorities for review.
Principle 31
The appropriate authorities shall endeavour to ensure, according to domestic law, assistance
when needed to dependent and, in particular, minor members of the families of detained or
imprisoned persons and shall devote a particular measure of care to the appropriate custody of
children left with out supervision.
Principle 32
1. A detained person or his counsel shall be entitled at any time to take proceedings according to
domestic law before a judicial or other authority to challenge the lawfulness of his detention in
order to obtain his release without delay, if it is unlawful.
2. The proceedings referred to in paragraph 1 of the present principle shall be simple and
expeditious and at no cost for detained persons without adequate means. The detaining
authority shall produce without unreasonable delay the detained person before the reviewing
authority.
Principle 33
1. A detained or imprisoned person or his counsel shall have the right to make a request or
complaint regarding his treatment, in particular in case of torture or other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment, to the authorities responsible for the administration of the place of
detention and to higher authorities and, when necessary, to appropriate authorities vested with
reviewing or remedial powers.
2. In those cases where neither the detained or imprisoned person nor his counsel has the
possibility to exercise his rights under paragraph 1 of the present principle, a member of the
family of the detained or imprisoned person or any other person who has knowledge of the case
may exercise such rights.
3. Confidentiality concerning the request or complaint shall be maintained if so requested by the
complainant.
4. Every request or complaint shall be promptly dealt with and replied to without undue delay. If
the request or complaint is rejected or, in case of inordinate delay, the complainant shall be
entitled to bring it before a judicial or other authority. Neither the detained or imprisoned person
nor any complainant under paragraph 1 of the present principle shall suffer prejudice for making
a request or complaint.
Principle 34
Whenever the death or disappearance of a detained or imprisoned person occurs during his
detention or imprisonment, an inquiry into the cause of death or disappearance shall be held by
a judicial or other authority, either on its own motion or at the instance of a member of the
family of such a person or any person who has knowledge of the case. When circumstances so
warrant, such an inquiry shall be held on the same procedural basis whenever the death or
disappearance occurs shortly after the termination of the detention or imprisonment. The
findings of such inquiry or a report thereon shall be made available upon request, unless doing
so would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation.
Principle 35