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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture: 
Publication of the report on the visit to Moldova in 1998 and of the reponse of the Moldovan Government

STRASBOURG, 14.12.2000 - The Moldovan Government has requested the publication of the report of the COUNCIL OF EUROPE's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on the visit to Moldova in October 1998 and of its response.

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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 consultations 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 Moldova was carried out from 11 to 21 October 1998, within the framework of the Committee's programme of periodic visits for 1998.

The CPT's delegation visited the following places of detention:

Balţi :

- District Police Headquarters and Pre-trial Prison, Stefan cel Mare Street

Chisinau :

- Centre for vagrants, Maria Cibotaru Street
- Ciocana Police Station, M. Dragan Street
- Department for the fight against organised crime and corruption
- Pre-trial Prison, Tighina Street

Criuleni :

- District Police Headquarters and Pre-trial Prison, 31 August Street

- Prison n° 3, Bernardazzi Street, Chisinau

- Psychiatric Hospital n° 2, Churchi (Orhei)
- Ward for arrested persons under forensic assessment and Ward for compulsory treatment, Chisinau Psychiatric Hospital, Costujeni Street

Moreover, the delegation interviewed a number of patients at the Pruncul Republican Prison Hospital.

The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. All 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, Georgia, 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, 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. 

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The CPT's report on its visit to Moldova in 1998 (103 pages) and the response of the Moldovan Government (26 pages) can be obtained from:

• the CPT's Internet Site: www.cpt.coe.int
• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  Sabine ZIMMER tel. +33 3 88 41 25 97;
  Cathie BURTON tel. +33 3 88 41 28 93
  fax +33 3 88 41 27 90 ; e-mail pressunit@coe.int
• the CPT's Secretariat:
  tel. +33 3 88 41 23 88; fax: +33 3 88 41 27 72;
  e-mail cptdoc@coe.int

A 6 page summary of the CPT's main findings can be faxed upon request.