Press Release
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture announces its
visits in 2001
STRASBOURG, 28.11.2000 - Within the framework of its programme of periodic visits, the
European Committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment (CPT) envisages organising visits to the following countries during 2001:
Visits to other countries may be organised in 2001 if circumstances so require.
The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the prevention of torture and
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. All 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, Georgia, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, 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 and to
interview those persons in private. The Committee may formulate recommendations to
strengthen, if necessary, their protection against torture and inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
Further information may be obtained from:
