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STRASBOURG, 10.12.98 – The authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have agreed to the publication of the report of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on its visit to the Netherlands Antilles from 7 to 11 December 1997, and of the response of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles.
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 may decide to lift the rule of confidentiality provided for in the Convention.
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.
(1) The CPT’s report on the 1994 visit and the interim report of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles in response were published in January 1996 (CPT/Inf (96) 1).
The CPT was set under the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All the 40 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 1st 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 the Netherlands Antilles and the response of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles (54 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
The CPT’s Internet site: www.cpt.coe.int
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.
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