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Press Release

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

STRASBOURG, 27.09.99 - A delegation of the COUNCIL OF EUROPE Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) recently carried out a ten-day visit to Norway. The visit began on 13 September 1999 and was organised within the framework of the CPT's programme of periodic visits for 1999. It was the CPT's second periodic visit to Norway.

The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:

• Jón BJARMAN (Head of Delegation) (Icelandic)
• Aleš BUTALA (Slovenian)
• Renate KICKER (Austrian)
• Maria SCIBERRAS (Maltese)
• Demetrios STYLIANIDES (Cypriot).

They were assisted by three experts - Enda DOOLEY (Director of Prison Medical Services, Department of Justice, Ireland) - Marianne KASTRUP (Medical Director of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, Denmark) - Gordon LAKES (former Deputy Director General of the Prison Service of England and Wales) - as well as by Mark KELLY and Bojana URUMOVA of the CPT’s Secretariat.

The delegation visited the following places:

Prisons

• Bergen Prison (Landsfengsel)
• Oslo Prison (Kretsfengsel)

Asker and Bærum Police District

• Police Headquarters, Sandvika

Bergen Police District

• Police Headquarters
• Nesttun Police Station
• Fana District Sheriff's Office
• Laksevåg District Sheriff's Office

Oslo Police District

• Police Headquarters
• Majorstuen Police Station
• Manglerud Police Station

Romerike Police District

• Gardermoen Police Station, Oslo International Airport

Holding Centres for Aliens

• Snarøya Aliens Holding Centre

Psychiatric hospitals

• Gaustad Hospital, Oslo

Establishments for young persons

• BUS Observation Institution, Oslo
• Øvstun Centre, Nesttun
• Fossum Collective, Spydeberg

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 during its visit to Norway and its consultations with the Norwegian 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. 40 of the 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, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, 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:

• the CPT's Internet Site: www.cpt.coe.int
• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  Laura Riello, tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 45 86; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 90; e-mail pressunit@coe.int
• the CPT’s Secretariat:
  tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 72; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 41 member states.