European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was adopted by the member states of the Council of Europe, meeting at Strasbourg on 26 November 1987. After the European Convention on Human Rights, the Convention for the Prevention of Torture is widely regarded as being one of the most important of the Council of Europe's treaties. The Convention marks a fresh and preventive approach in handling human rights violations. It was subsequently amended by two Protocols. Additionally, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture was established to comply with the provisions of the convention. This body is enabled to visit any place within the jurisdiction of the states' parties where people are deprived of their liberty in line with the articles of the convention.

European Convention for the Prevention of Torture
The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Signed	26 November 1987
Location	Strasbourg, France
Effective	1 February 1989
Parties	Council of Europe Member States
Languages	English, French

As of 2020, the convention has been ratified by all 47 of the Council of Europe's member states. Furthermore, the ratification of the convention has become a pre-condition for all states who have joined the Council of Europe in the last few years.

History

Objective

At the time of its publishing, the convention was groundbreaking, as it was the first instrument capable of enforcing compliance with the obligations it created. Therefore, the objective was to create a document which would ensure adequate consequences are presented to those who do not abide by it. Despite the existence of core publications such as the United Nations Charter or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these documents simply could not stop or remedy violations in a rigorous way. The key was thus to prevent torture altogether.

Background

The origins of the Conventions date to a proposal by Jean-Jacques Gautier in 1976. Gautier was the founder of the Swiss Committee against Torture. He was inspired by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who conducted visits to places where prisoners of war were held. He suggested that the conditions of prisoners were improved. However, the ICRC (at the time) had the power to conduct such visits only in case of international armed conflict between states parties to the Geneva Conventions. Gautier thus proposed to extend this system of visits to include all other places where individuals are deprived of their liberty, such as prisons, police stations, psychiatric institutions and remand centres. This proposal then formed the basis of a draft which would eventually become the International Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The draft was submitted in April 1980 to be evaluated by the Commission on Human Rights, the body which would come to draft the UN Convention.

Gautier's ideas were then taken by the Council of Europe to be realised, at least at the regional level. Eventually, in June 1983, a report was produced with a draft European Convention on the Protection of Detainees from Torture and from Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The report was accepted by the Consultative Assembly in September 1983. Several years of debate followed, including discussions regarding the views of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights. An agreed draft was finally concluded in June 1986, which was transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, who ultimately adopted it on 26 June 1987. It was opened for signature on 26 November 1987. At the time, the convention was signed by all of the 21 member states of the Council of Europe. As of 2020, it has been signed by all 47 member states of the council. It is also open for accession by non-member States.

Actors

This section serves as an overview of the actors which actively contributed to creating the convention.

Jean-Jacques Gautier, the person who came forward with the original proposal which would eventually lead to the adoption of the Convention
the Council of Europe
the Member States of the Council of Europe

Convention Articles

Hereby is a selection of the most significant Articles of the Convention which outline the core values of the document.

Article 1

The primary and opening article of the Convention depicts the need for the establishment for a European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. For the remainder of the document, it is referred to as "the Committee".

"The Committee shall, by means of visits, examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty". If deemed necessary, the committee is to strengthen their protection from torture.

Article 2

Article 2 emphasises that each Member State in accordance with the Convention shall permit visits to a place within its jurisdiction where people are deprived of their liberty. This is under the condition that the liberty is taken by a public authority.

"Each Party shall permit visits, in accordance with this Convention, to any place within its jurisdiction where persons are deprived of their liberty by a public authority"

Article 8

Article 8 states that if in need of a particular visit, the committee is to notify the Government of the Member State concerned. Only after that can it visit any place as referred to in Article 2.

"The following facilities must be provided to the Committee to carry out the task:"

"access to its territory and the right to travel without restriction"
"full information regarding where those deprived of liberty are being held"
"unlimited access to any place where persons are deprived of their liberty"
- "this includes the right to move inside such places without restriction"
"any other relevant information deemed necessary for the Committee to carry out its task"
- "noting that when seeking this information, the Committee must abide by national laws and professional ethics"
"the Committee may interview those deprived of liberty in private"
"the Committee may communicate freely with any person whom it believed to supply relevant information"
"If necessary, the Committee may immediately communicate observations to the competent authorities of the Party concerned"

Article 10

"Each visit should be accompanied by a drawn up report by the Committee regarding the facts found during the visit".

"This should account for any observations which may have been submitted by the Party concerned. Any recommendations are to be transmitted to the Party. If necessary, the Committee is to suggest improvements in the protection of persons deprived of their liberty"

"If the Party refuses to co-operate or improve the conditions of those deprived of their liberty, the Committee may decide to make a public statement on the matter".

Article 11

"The information gathered by the Committee regarding its visits, report and consultations is to remain confidential."

Only at the request of the Party concerned is the Committee allowed to publish the report.

No personal data can be published without the consent of the person concerned.

Article 18

The convention is open for signature by all member states of the Council of Europe. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of any of these actions are to be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Non-members states of the Council of Europe may be invited to accede to the convention by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Convention Protocols

Protocol No. 1 (ETS No. 151)

The first Protocol was adopted 4 November 1993. The Protocol "opens" the convention by providing that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may invite any non-member State to accede to it. It is now an inherent characteristic to the convention, despite the fact that only member States are signatories as of May 2020.

Protocol No. 2 (ETS No. 152)

Protocol No. 2 was adopted 4 November 1993 and introduced amendments of a technical nature. The committee is now provisioned to be placed in "one of two groups for election purposes". This is to ensure that at least one half of the committee's members is renewed every two years. The Protocol also allows members of the committee to be re-elected twice, instead of only once.

Member states participants

Albania

Convention signed 2 October 1996
Convention ratified 2 October 1996
Convention entered into force 1 February 1997

Andorra

Convention signed 10 September 1996
Convention ratified 1 January 1997
Convention entered into force 5 January 1997

Armenia

Convention signed 11 May 2001
Convention ratified 18 June 2002
Convention entered into force 10 October 2002

Austria

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 6 January 1989
Convention entered into force 1 May 1989

Azerbaijan

Convention signed 21 December 2001
Convention ratified 15 April 2002
Convention entered into force 1 August 2002
- However, Azerbaijan declares that it is "unable to guarantee the application of the provisions of the Convention" in territories occupied by the Republic of Armenia until those territories are liberated from that occupation

Belgium

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 23 July 1991
Convention entered into force 1 November 1991

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Convention signed 12 July 2002
Convention ratified 12 July 2002
Convention entered into force 1 November 2002

Bulgaria

Convention signed 30 September 1993
Convention ratified 3 May 1994
Convention entered into force 1 September 1994

Croatia

Convention signed 6 November 1996
Convention ratified 11 October 1997
Convention entered into force 1 February 1998

Cyprus

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 3 April 1989
Convention entered into force 1 August 1989

Czech Republic

Convention signed 23 December 1992
Convention ratified 7 September 1995
Convention entered into force 1 January 1996

Denmark

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 2 May 1989
Convention entered into force 1 September 1989

Estonia

Convention signed 28 June 1996
Convention ratified 6 November 1996
Convention entered into force 1 March 1997

Finland

Convention signed 16 November 1989
Convention ratified 20 December 1990
Convention entered into force 1 April 1991

France

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 9 January 1989
Convention entered into force 1 May 1989

Georgia

Convention signed 16 February 2000
Convention ratified 20 June 2000
Convention entered into force 1 October 2000
- However, Georgia states it will "not be responsible for violations of the provisions of the Convention and the safety of the members of the Committee"
  - This applies solely to the territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, until the territorial integrity of Georgia is fully restored and control over these territories is carried out by "legitimate authorities"

Germany

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 21 February 1990
Convention entered into force 1 June 1990

Greece

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 2 August 1991
Convention entered into force 1 December 1991

Hungary

Convention signed 9 February 1993
Convention ratified 4 November 1993
Convention entered into force 1 March 1994

Iceland

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 19 June 1990
Convention entered into force 1 October 1990

Ireland

Convention signed 14 March 1988
Convention ratified 14 March 1999
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989

Italy

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 29 December 1988
Convention entered into force 1 April 1989
- Italy declares that paragraph 2(a) of the Annex on Privileges and Immunities is not to be interpreted as "excluding any police or customs check of the luggage of the members of the Committee"
- This is assuming that the check is carried out whilst complying with the rules on confidentiality as established in Article 11 of the Convention

Latvia

Convention signed 11 September 1997
Convention ratified 10 February 1998
Convention entered into force 1 June 1998

Liechtenstein

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 12 September 1991
Convention entered into force 1 January 1992

Lithuania

Convention signed 14 September 1995
Convention ratified 26 November 1998
Convention entered into force 1 March 1999

Luxembourg

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 6 September 1988
Convention entered into force February, 1989

Malta

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 7 March 1998
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989

Republic of Moldova

Convention signed 5 May 1996
Convention ratified 2 October 1997
Convention entered into force 1 February 1998

Monaco

Convention signed 30 November 2005
Convention ratified 30 November 2005
Convention entered into force 1 March 2006

Montenegro

Convention signed 3 March 2004
Convention ratified 3 March 2004
Convention entered into force 6 June 2006

Netherlands

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 12 October 1988
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989
- The Kingdom of the Netherlands accepts said Convention, including with "Annex for the Kingdom in Europe, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba"

North Macedonia

Convention signed 14 June 1996
Convention ratified 6 June 1997
Convention entered into force 1 October 1997

Norway

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 21 April 1989
Convention entered into force 1 August 1989

Poland

Convention signed 11 July 1994
Convention ratified 10 October 1994
Convention entered into force 1 February 1995

Portugal

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 29 March 1990
Convention entered into force 1 July 1990

Romania

Convention signed 4 November 1993
Convention ratified 4 October 1994
Convention entered into force 1 February 1995

Russian Federation

Convention signed 28 February 1996
Convention ratified 5 May 1998
Convention entered into force 1 September 1998

San Marino

Convention signed 16 November 1989
Convention ratified 31 January 1990
Convention entered into force 1 May 1990

Serbia

Convention signed 3 March 2004
Convention ratified 3 March 2004
Convention entered into force 1 July 2004

Slovak Republic

Convention signed 23 December 1992
Convention ratified 11 May 1994
Convention entered into force 1 September 1994

Slovenia

Convention signed 4 November 1993
Convention ratified 2 February 1994
Convention entered into force 1 June 1994

Spain

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 2 May 1989
Convention entered into force 1 September 1989

Sweden

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 21 June 1988
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989

Switzerland

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 7 October 1988
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989

Turkey

Convention signed 11 January 1988
Convention ratified 26 February 1988
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989

Ukraine

Convention signed 2 May 1996
Convention ratified 5 May 1997
Convention entered into force 1 September 1997

United Kingdom

Convention signed 26 November 1987
Convention ratified 24 June 1988
- Convention is ratified in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man
Convention entered into force 1 February 1989
- 30 October 2013, the convention was extended to the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus, which are territories for which the United Kingdom is responsible in regards to international relations

Non-member states participants

Currently, the list of signatories includes only the member states of the Council of Europe. It is open for signature to non-member states, however none have done so as of the year 2020.

References

Council of Europe (2002). "European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment". European Treaty Series - No. 126.
Cassese, Antonio (1989). "A New Approach to Human Rights: The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture". The American Journal of International Law. 83 (1): 128–153. doi:10.2307/2202800. JSTOR 2202800. S2CID 144580745.
"Chart of signatures and ratifications of Treaty 126". Council of Europe. 15 May 2020.
"Details of Treaty No. 151". Council of Europe. May 2020.
"Details of Treaty No. 152". Council of Europe. May 2020.
"Reservations and Declarations for Treaty No.126 - European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment". Council of Europe. 15 May 2020.

[:2-1] Council of Europe (2002). "European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment". European Treaty Series - No. 126.

[:1-2] Cassese, Antonio (1989). "A New Approach to Human Rights: The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture". The American Journal of International Law. 83 (1): 128–153. doi:10.2307/2202800. JSTOR 2202800. S2CID 144580745.

[:0-3] "Chart of signatures and ratifications of Treaty 126". Council of Europe. 15 May 2020.

[:4-4] "Details of Treaty No. 151". Council of Europe. May 2020.

[:5-5] "Details of Treaty No. 152". Council of Europe. May 2020.

[:3-6] "Reservations and Declarations for Treaty No.126 - European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment". Council of Europe. 15 May 2020.