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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture:

Publication of the follow-up report of the Belgian Government

STRASBOURG, 12.07.99 – The Belgian Government has decided to make public its follow-up 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 follow-up report forms part of the ongoing dialogue established between the CPT and the Belgian authorities.

The CPT's report on its 1997 visit was published in June 1998 and the interim report of the Belgian Government in March 1999.

The CPT was set under the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 40 of the 41 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 to be required in the circumstances.

The Belgian Government's follow-up report (18 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

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 41 member states.