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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture:

Publication of the follow-up response of the Italian Government concerning the 1995 visit

STRASBOURG, 27.01.00 – The Italian Government has decided to make public its follow-up report in response to the report drawn up by the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) after its visit to Italy in 1995. This follow-up report forms part of the ongoing dialogue between the CPT and the Italian authorities.

The CPT's report on its 1995 visit and the interim report of the Italian Government were published in December 1997.

The CPT recently announced its intention to carry out a periodic visit to Italy in 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 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 organise periodic visits as well as other visits which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.

The Italian Government's follow up report (120 pages) may 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 +33/(0)3.88.41.27.90; E-mail pressunit@coe.int
  Cathie BURTON, tel. +33/(0)3.88.41.28.93; 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