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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture:

Publication of the report on the visit to Luxembourg in 1997 and of the Luxembourg Government’s response

STRASBOURG, 03.12.98 – The Luxembourg Government has decided to make public the report of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on its visit to Luxembourg in 1997, and the report drawn up by the Luxembourg authorities in response.

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 consultattions with the State concerned are confidential. However, the State concerned may decide to lift the rule of confidentiality provided for in the Convention.

The CPT’s visit to Luxembourg was carried out from 20 to 25 April 1997. The CPT’s delegation visited the following places of detention:

- Intervention Brigade of the Drugs and Controlled Products Directorate, Rumelange

Gendarmerie

- Custodial Unit of the Luxembourg Gendarmerie Brigade

- Special Service of the Gendarmerie at Luxembourg - Findel Airport

- Criminal Investigation Service of the Gendarmerie (Aliens' Police and Games Section)

- Holding room of the Gendarmerie at the Luxembourg 'Palais de Justice'

Police

- Luxembourg Central Police Station

Juvenile institutions

- State Socio-Educational Centre for Boys, Dreiborn

- State Socio-Educational Centre for Girls, Schrassig

Prisons

- Luxembourg Prison, Schrassig.

The CPT was set under the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. To date, all 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 (as from 1^st March 1999), 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 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 CPT’s report on its visit to Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Government’s response (62 pages) can be obtained from:

• The Council of Europe Press Department:
  Sabine ZIMMER, tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97 ; fax (0)3 88 41 27 90 ; e-mail pressunit@coe.fr

• The CPT’s Secretariat:
  Tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88 ; fax (0)3 88 41 27 72 ; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int

• CPT’s Internet site: www.cpt.coe.int

A four page summary of the CPT’s main findings can be faxed upon request.

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe promotes democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 40 member states.