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Press Release

Visit to Ukraine by the European Committee for the prevention of torture

STRASBOURG, 28.07.99 - 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 nine day visit to Ukraine. The visit began in Kyiv on 15 July 1999; it was the Committee's second visit to Ukraine, the first having taken place in February 1998.

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

• John OLDEN, Second Vice-President of the CPT, Head of the delegation, (Irish)
• Christina DOCTARE (Swedish)
• Zdenek HÁJEK (Czech)
• Andres LEHTMETS (Estonian)
• Pierre SCHMIT (Luxemburger)

They were assisted by Geneviève MAYER, Deputy Secretary of the CPT.

The delegation visited the following places:

Kharkiv

• Dzerzhynski District Command of Internal Affairs

Kyiv

• Leningradskyi District Command of Internal Affairs
• Moskovskyi District Command of Internal Affairs *
• Podilskyi District Command of Internal Affairs
• Central Railway Station Division of Transport Militia *
• Transport Militia holding facility for criminal suspects and Centre for the reception and allocation of vagrants, Central Railway Station *
• Militia Central Holding facility (ITT) *
• Central Department for the fight against organised crime

• Colony n° 85

Kharkiv

• Pre-trial Prison No. 313/203*

_______________

* establishments first visited by the CPT during its visit in 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 during its visit to Ukraine and its consultations with the Ukrainian 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:
  Cathie BURTON, tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 28 93; 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 promotes democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 40 member states.