Council of Europe: Committee for the Prevention of Torture

In recent years the Council of Europe's efforts to guarantee human rights have laid increasing emphasis on preventing violations. Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights provides that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". This article inspired the drafting, in 1987, of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Convention provides non-judicial preventive machinery to protect detainees. It is based on a system of visits by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). The Secretariat of the CPT forms part of the Council of Europe's Directorate General of Human Rights. Website: www.cpt.coe.int/en/