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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture: Publication of the response of the United Kingdom Government to the report on the 1997 visit

STRASBOURG, 11.05.2000 - The United Kingdom Government has asked the COUNCIL OF EUROPE’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to make public the Government's response to the report drawn up by the CPT after its visit to the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man in 1997. This response forms part of the ongoing dialogue established between the CPT and the United Kingdom authorities.

The CPT's report on its 1997 visit to the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man was published in January 2000.

The CPT was set up 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, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The remaining State - Georgia - signed the Convention on 16 February 2000.

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 response of the United Kingdom Government (34 pages) can be obtained from:

• the CPT’s Internet Site: www.cpt.coe.int

• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  Sabine ZIMMER/Cathie BURTON tél. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97/28 93 ; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 90 ; e-mail pressunit@coe.int

• the CPT’s Secretariat:
  tel. +33/(0)3.88.41.23.88; fax: +33/(0)3.88.41.27.72; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int