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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture: 
Publication of the reports on the visits to Cyprus in 1992 and 1996

STRASBOURG, 22.05.97 The Government of Cyprus has agreed to the publication of the reports of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on its visits to Cyprus in 1992 and 1996.

Under Article 11 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the information gathered by the CPT in relation to a visit, its report and its consultations with the State concerned are confidential. However, the State concerned may agree to lift the rule of confidentiality provided for in the Convention. The CPT's visits to Cyprus were carried out from 2 to 9 November 1992 and 12 to 21 May 1996, within the framework of the Committee's programmes of periodic visits for 1992 and 1996. The CPT's delegations visited the following places of detention:

Police establishments

• Police Prison, Nicosia (1992 and 1996)
• Larnaca Central Police Station (1992 and 1996) Limassol Central Police Station (1992 and 1996)
• Paphos Central Police Station (1992 and 1996)
• Ayia Napa Police Station (1992)
• Ayios Dhometios Police Station (1992)
• Deftera Police Station (1992)
• Kiti Police Station (1992)
• Klirou Police Station (1992)
• Kophinou Police Station (1992)
• Kouklia Police Station (1992)
• Larnaca Airport Police Station (1992)
• Ayios Ioannis Police Station, Limassol (1996)
• Lykavitos Police Station, Nicosia (1992 and 1996)
• Omorfitas Police Station, Nicosia (1992 and 1996)
• Oroklini Police Station (1992 and 1996)
• Paralimni Police Station (1996)
• Strovolos Police Station (1992)
• Xylophagou Police Station (1992)
• Xylotymbou Police Station (1992 and 1996)
• Yermasoyia Police Station (1992)

Prisons

• Nicosia Central Prisons (1992 and 1996)

Military establishments

• Tasou Markou Barracks, Klirou (1996)
• A Panagidis Military Police Barracks, Nicosia (1996)

Psychiatric institutions

• Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital (1992 and 1996)
• Nea Eleoussa Home for Severely Mentally Retarded Persons (1992)

Other places

• Holding room at Nicosia Assize Court (1992)
• Holding facilities for foreigners at Larnaca Airport (1996)
• Transit Room at Larnaca Airport (1992)

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: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine (as from 1 September 1997) 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.

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 any other visits which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.

The CPT's reports on its two visits to Cyprus (118 pages) can be obtained from:

• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  (Sabine ZIMMER, tel. (33) (0)3 88 41 25 97; fax (33) (0)3 88 41 27 90)
• the Committee for the Prevention of Torture's Secretariat:
  (tel. (33) (0)3 88 41 23 88; fax (33) (0)3 88 41 27 72).

A 10 page summary of the CPT's main findings can be faxed upon request.