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Press Release

Publication of the interim response of the Belgian Government to the report on the 1997 visit

STRASBOURG, 31.03.99 – The Belgian Government has decided to make public 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 1997. This interim report forms part of the ongoing dialogue established between the CPT and the Belgian authorities.

The CPT's report on its visit to Belgium was published in June 1998.

The CPT was set under the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All the 40 member States of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The CPT is composed of persons from a variety of backgrounds: lawyers, doctors, prison experts, persons with parliamentary experience, etc.

The Committee’s 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 other visits which appear to it be required in the circumstances.

The Belgian Government's interim response (205 pages) can be obtained from:

• The CPT’s Internet site: www.cpt.coe.int
• The Council of Europe Press Department:
  Sabine ZIMMER, tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97 ; fax (0)3 88 41 27 90 ; e-mail pressunit@coe.fr
• The CPT’s Secretariat:
  Tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88 ; fax (0)3 88 41 27 72 ; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int
• The Ministry of Justice, General Directorate of Criminal Law and Human Rights,
  Waterloo Boulevard 115 - 1000 Bruxelles, tel. +32(0)2 542 7122; fax (0)2 542 7009

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe promotes democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 40 member states.