Press Release
European Committee for the prevention of
torture :
Publication of the interim report of the Belgian Government
STRASBOURG, 3.05.95 - The Belgian Government has agreed to the
publication of its interim report
in response to the report drawn up by the COUNCIL OF EUROPE's
Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) after its visit to
Belgium in 1993. This interim report forms part of the ongoing
dialogue established between the Committee and the Belgian
authorities.
The Committee's report
on its visit to Belgium was published in October 1994.
The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the
prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. The following member States of the Council of Europe
are bound by the Convention: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
The CPT is composed of persons from a variety of backgrounds:
lawyers, medical doctors, prison experts, persons with
parliamentary experience, etc. Its task is to examine the
treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. For this purpose,
it is entitled to visit any place where such persons are held by
a public authority. It may formulate recommendations to
strengthen, if necessary, their protection against torture and
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The CPT organises periodic visits as well as any other visits
which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.
The Belgian Government's
interim report can be obtained from :
- the Council of Europe Press Service, Strasbourg
(Sabine ZIMMER, tel. +33/88.41.25.97 ; fax.
+33/88.41.27.90)
- the Committee for the Prevention of
Torture's Secretariat
(tel. +33/88.41.28.42 ; fax. +33/88.41.27.72)
- the Ministry of Justice, Service des Droits de l'Homme,
Administration des Affaires Pénales et Criminelles, 115
boulevard de Waterloo, B - 1000 BRUXELLES
- (Mr DEBRULLE, Director General, tel. .32/2.542.67.30 and
Mr LATHOUWERS, Deputy Advisor, Head of Service, tel.
.32/2.542.67.41 ; fax. +32/2.542.70.09).
