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STRASBOURG, 18.12.97 - 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 five-day visit to Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles). The visit began on 7 December 1997.
The CPT carried out a first visit to the Netherlands Antilles in June 1994, in the course of which it visited various places of detention, and in particular Koraal Specht Prison (1). During the December 1997 visit, the CPT's delegation made a detailed examination of the situation at Koraal Specht Prison, in order to ascertain whether the recommendations made by the Committee after the 1994 visit to that prison have been implemented.
The 1997 visit also afforded an opportunity to re-examine conditions in the police detention facilities and the Criminal Investigation Department in Rio Canario.
In the course of the visit, the delegation met Mr P. Atacho, Minister for Justice and Mr R. Ursula, Director of the Department of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles. It also held discussions with the prosecuting authorities and, in particular, with Mr D. Piar, Chief Public Prosecutor.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
They were assisted by James McMANUS (Scottish Prisons Complaints Commissioner) (expert) and accompanied by Jan MALINOWSKI of the CPT's Secretariat.
(1) The Committee’s report on the 1994 visit and the interim report of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles in response were published in January 1996.
The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. To date, 37 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. 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 Antilles and its consultations with the authorities of the Netherlands Antilles are confidential.
Further information may be obtained from:
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.