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STRASBOURG, 5.11.99 - A delegation of the COUNCIL OF EUROPE Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has recently carried out an eight-day visit to Greece. The visit began in Athens on 26 October 1999; it was the Committee's fourth visit to Greece.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT :
They were assisted by Petya NESTOROVA of the CPT’s Secretariat.
The delegation met the Minister for Justice, Mr Evangelos GIANNOPOULOS, the Minister for Health and Welfare, Mr Lambros PAPADIMAS, the Minister for Public Order, Mr Michalis CHRYSSOCHOIDIS, as well as senior officials from these ministries. In the course of the visit, the CPT's delegation focused its attention on the conditions of detention and treatment of foreign nationals awaiting deportation. The visit also afforded an opportunity to review the measures being taken by the Greek authorities to implement the recommendations made by the CPT in respect of the Korydallos Prison Complex (previously visited by the CPT in 1993 and 1997).
The delegation visited the following places:
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Public Order
Attica Prefecture
Evros Prefecture
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Justice
In accordance with Article 11 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the information gathered by the CPT during its visit to Greece and its consultations with the Greek authorities are confidential.
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, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, 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, 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. The Committee 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.
Further information may be obtained from:
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 41 member states.
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