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Press Release

Visit by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture to the Netherlands

STRASBOURG, 4.12.97 - 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 a ten day visit to the Netherlands. The visit, which began on 17 November 1997, was organised within the framework of the CPT's programme of periodic visits for 1997.

The members of the delegation were:

• Günther KAISER (Head of the delegation) (German)
• Jón BJARMAN (Icelander)
• Zdenek HÁJEK (Czech)
• John OLDEN (Irish)
• Maria SCIBERRAS (Maltese).

The delegation was assisted by Timothy HARDING (Director of the University Institute of Forensic Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland) and Françoise TULKENS (Professor, President of the Criminology and Penal Law Department, Catholic University of Louvain) as well as by three members of the CPT's Secretariat, Fabrice KELLENS, Mark KELLY and Bojana URUMOVA.

The delegation visited the following places:

Amsterdam:

• Over-Amstel Prisons (Demersluis and Het Veer)
• Amsterdam Police Headquarters
• Police Station, Warmoesstraat 44-50
• Koninklijke Marechaussee ("Royal Gendarmerie") facilities, Schiphol International Airport
• Registration Centre of the Central Reception Organisation for Asylum Seekers (COA) at Schiphol International Airport

Emmen:

• Emmen Police Headquarters

Groningen :

• Dr S. van Mesdag Clinic
• Groningen Regional Police Headquarters

Ter Apel:

• Departure Centre for Foreigners

Tilburg:

• Tilburg Regional Police Headquarters
• Police Station, Stationsstraat 14
• King Willem II Detention Centre for Foreigners

Vught:

• Nieuw Vosseveld Prison (EBI and TEBI)

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 in relation to its visit to the Netherlands and its consultations with the Dutch 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. The following member States of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia (as from 1 February 1998), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova (as from 1 February 1998), the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, 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. Its 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 any other visits which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.

For further information:

• Media representatives should contact 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.fr
• others should contact the Secretariat of the CPT:
  (Tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88; fax : +33/(0)3 88 41 27 72), e-mail cptdoc@coe.int

Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is the oldest European Organisation. Based in Strasbourg, France, it has 40 member countries and covers every policy area except defence. It is separate from the European Union.