The Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) is the only European institution having a right to access detention facilities and premises. The CPT was set up by the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

1987 (2002) EUROPEAN CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE AND INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT (74.25 KB)

The CPT's members are independent and impartial experts from a variety of backgrounds.  They are, for example, lawyers, medical doctors and specialists in prison or police matters.

The CPT visits places like prisons, police stations or "holding centres for immigration detainees" (as the CPT calls them) to see how persons deprived of their liberty are treated and, if necessary, to recommend improvements to Member States. Visits are carried out by delegations.

After each country visit, the CPT draws up a report which is sent to the government of the country having been visited. The government may reply to the CPT report. CPT country visit reports may only be made public if the government of the State concerned gives its consent. Equally, the government may request that its response to the CPT report is made public.

The CPT has developed certain standards which should be respected by the Member States of the European Council when they detain persons. The nature of those standards are not legally binding.

2006 CPT STANDARDS (536.61 KB)

2007 An overview and comments on particular concerns by Cornelia Bührle RSCJ - European Convention and European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment and theirs Standards (117.77 KB)