In its Statement, the Committee makes it clear that the failure to comply with this requirement may result in a large number of inmates being subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment, or in a worsening of situations already regarded as intolerable, in endangering the health and life of these persons and in compromising the security of the establishments concerned. The lack of any practical progress over many years in establishing a viable system for these rights to be upheld in all circumstances, in particular in the context of industrial action, is described by the Committee as “a serious failure to co-operate”.

Speaking as the Public Statement was released, CPT President Mr Mykola Gnatovskyy said:

 “The CPT is today calling upon the Belgian authorities and all stakeholders, in particular the social partners, to face up to their responsibilities and to find an appropriate solution quickly to this exceptionally serious problem, which should not arise in a Council of Europe member state.”

The full text of the CPT’s Public Statement on Belgium is available in English and French, as well as in Dutch.

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* Article 10, paragraph 2 of the ECPT provides that the Committee itself may issue a public statement if a Party to the Convention “fails to co-operate or refuses to improve the situation in the light of the Committee's recommendations”.