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STRASBOURG, 30.09.99 The Icelandic Government has decided to make public its response to the report drawn up by the COUNCIL OF EUROPEs Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) after its visit to Iceland in 1998. This response forms part of the ongoing dialogue established between the CPT and the Icelandic authorities.
The CPT's report on its visit to Iceland was published in February 1999.
The CPT was set 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, 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 Committees 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 Icelandic Government (67 pages) can be obtained from:
The CPTs Internet site: www.cpt.coe.int
The Council of Europe Press Department:
Laura RIELLO, Tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97 ; fax (0)3 88 41 27 90 ; e-mail pressunit@coe.int
The CPTs Secretariat:
Tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88 ; fax (0)3 88 41 27 72 ; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int
The Ministry of Justice, Arnarhvoli, ISL - 150 REYKJAVIK, Iceland
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