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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture:

Publication of the report on the visit to the Czech Republic in 1997 and of the Czech Government's responses

STRASBOURG, 15.04.99 – The Czech Government has requested the publication of the report of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on its visit to the Czech Republic in 1997, and of the interim and follow-up reports drawn up by the Czech authorities in response.

Under Article 11 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the information gathered by the Committee in relation to a visit, its report and its consultations with the State concerned are confidential. However, the State may decide to lift the rule of confidentiality provided for in the Convention.

The CPT's visit to the Czech Republic was carried out from 16 to 26 February 1997, in the context of the Committee's programme of periodic visits for 1997. The CPT's delegation visited the following places of detention:

- Police holding facilities, Bratislavaká 13-15, Brno

- Police Headquarters, Kongresová 2, Prague 4

- Jizní Mesto I Police Station, Steinerova 604, Prague 4

- Košíre Police Station, Ostrovského 3, Prague 5

- Smíchov Police Station, Štefánikova 13, Prague 5

- District Investigation Department, Františka Krizka 24, Prague 7

- Police Headquarters, Havlíckova 10, Šumperk

- Mírov Prison

- Prague-Pankrác Remand Prison

- Brno-Hlinky Diagnostic Institute for Children

- Moravský Krumlov Educational Institute for Children and Minors

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 CPT's report on its visit to the Czech Republic (62 pages) and the Czech Government's responses (97 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 five page summary of the CPT's main findings can be faxed upon request.