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

On November 26, 1987, the Euro Europe adopted the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter European Convention against Torture ). This Council of Europe Convention entered into force on 1 February 1989 and has been ratified by 47 States.

The European Torture Convention 's emphasis, taking into account the prohibition of torture under Article 3 of the ECHR, on the prevention and the prevention of torture. For this purpose, a European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was created.

The Committee shall examine by visiting the treatment of persons who are deprived of their liberty. He is at all times authorized to seek such facilities (especially prisons and similar institutions) in a Convention State. After the inspection, the Committee shall provide the State concerned a confidential report containing its findings and recommendations. In general, the Parties shall permit the publication of these reports, without the convention would they expressly undertake to do so.

The European Convention against Torture already has many similarities with the fifteen years later adopted the Optional Protocol ( OPCAT) to the UN Convention against Torture. It differs mainly in that it does not provide for national preventive mechanism.