PACE today congratulated the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) for its “outstanding work” over the past 25 years, which has led to significant improvements in the States Parties. The parliamentarians also emphasised that notable progress has been made in terms of “improving selection procedures, both at national level and before the Assembly”. The fact that a number of States Parties have now agreed in advance to the publication of CPT reports and related government responses, was welcomed as another positive development.
PACE believes, however, that “there is still room for improving the efficiency, authority and impact of the work of the CPT”. In a resolution adopted on the basis of the report by Jordi Xuclà (Spain, ALDE), therefore, the Assembly made a series of suggestions for further improving selection procedures for CPT members, and for further increasing awareness of CPT activities and standards. It also called on the Committee of Ministers to examine as a matter of urgency the CPT’s public statements.
