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STRASBOURG, 05.02.99 - 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 the Netherlands Antilles. The visit began on 25 January 1999.
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, including Koraal Specht Prison. During a second visit in December 1997, 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 had been implemented.(*)
The January 1999 visit was organised following an invitation from the authorities of the Netherlands Antilles. The main purpose of the visit was to review action taken in the light of the CPT's previous recommendations concerning Koraal Specht Prison and to hold consultations with the authorities of the Netherlands Antilles with a view to establishing a clear timetable for the taking of further measures required.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
They were assisted by James McMANUS (Scottish Prisons Complaints Commissioner) (expert) as well as by Jan MALINOWSKI of the CPT’s Secretariat.
In the course of the visit, the delegation met Mr Rutsel MARTHA, Minister for Justice, Mr Marcel GUMBS, Secretary of State for General Affairs and Justice, and Mr Russel URSULA, Director of the Department of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles. It also held discussions with a number of other senior officials and persons involved in the project for the reorganisation and expansion of Koraal Specht Prison, and with members of the Commission established to supervise the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty (the Kleinmoedig Commission).
Further, the Head of the delegation was received by His Excellency Mr Jaime SALEH, Governor of the Netherlands Antilles.
* The Committee's reports on the 1994 and 1997 visits and the reports of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles in response were published respectively in January 1996 and December 1998.
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.
The CPT was set up 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 1 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, medical 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. The Committee 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.
Further information may be obtained from:
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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