Doc. 8403
6 May 1999

Procedure for nominating members of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture

Motion for an order

presented by Lord Kirkhill and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only

the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly recalls its Order No. 530(1997) on strengthening the machinery of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in which it invites its Bureau "to pay particular attention to the criteria of professional background, gender and age, in order to ensure a more balanced composition of the committee, and, in particular, a greater participation of prison specialists and forensic scientists, as well as an increased number of women among its members" and emphasises inter alia the criterion of availability in order to ensure the Committee's effectiveness.

2.       In this text, it invited the national parliamentary delegations to have particular regard to the whole of the criteria which it had stated, when presenting candidates for the CPT.

3.       In accordance with a request contained in the Order, a model curriculum vitae was drawn up and transmitted to all national delegations.

4.       These measures have improved the procedure for the appointment of members of the CPT but have not resolved all the difficulties arising from the particular requirements related to the CPT's tasks, and in particular the task of carrying out missions under often difficult conditions requiring great physical and moral resistance.

5.       Consequently, the Assembly asks the national delegations to take these requirements into account when choosing candidates and instructs its Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to organise interviews with the candidates.

Signed : 1

Kirkhill, United Kingdom, SOC

Bartumeu Cassany, Andorra, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Calleja, Spain, SOC

Frunda, Romania, EPP/CD

Jäätteenmäki, Finland, LDR

Jaskiernia, Poland, SOC

Lopez Henares, Spain, EPP/CD

Nastase, Romania, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD


1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group