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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture: 
Publication of the reports on the three visits to Spain and of the Spanish Government's responses

STRASBOURG, 05.03.96 - The Spanish Government has agreed to the publication of the reports of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture on its three visits to Spain from 1 to 12 April 1991, 10 to 22 April 1994 and 10 to 14 June 1994, and of the responses of the Spanish Government.

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 concerned may agree to lift the rule of confidentiality provided for in the Convention.

The Committee 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, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, 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 and the United Kingdom.

The Committee 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 Committee organises periodic visits as well as any other visits which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.

The Committee's reports on its three visits to Spain and the Spanish Government's responses can be obtained from :

• the Council of Europe Press Department, 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)

Spanish translations of the CPT's reports on its three visits to Spain, as well as the Government's responses, can be obtained from :

• Oficina de Relaciones Informativas y Sociales, Ministerio de Justicia e Interior, calle San Bernardo 62, E - Madrid 28071 (tel. 341/390.21.82 ; fax. 341/390.20.95).