NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
Recalling recent matters that the Celtic League raised in relation to juvenile justice it is interesting to note that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has highlighted the issue in its annual report just released.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the of the CPT which carries out a number of visits to places of detention such as prisons, police, stations, juvenile custody centres etc throughout Europe.
This year is also coincidentally the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the CPT (a Council of Europe body) has decided to mark that event by updating ‘the CPT standards’ particularly in respect of juveniles deprived of their liberty under criminal legislation.
The General Report of the CPT can be found at the link below and the remarks on juveniles deprived of their liberty can be found at pages 49 – 57 of the report.
The Celtic League have made representations to the CPT over many years involving issues relating to prisons and juvenile detention centres in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Brittany and the Isle of Man.
During the CPTs first visit to the Isle of Man in 1997 the Celtic League General Secretary (at that time Bernard Moffatt) gave evidence to the Committee. Mr Moffatt also provided a submission at a subsequent visit by the Committee in 2003
CPT General Report 2013-14
https://www.cpt.coe.int/en/annual/CPT-Report-2013-2014.pdf
CPT UK – Isle of Man 1997 Report
https://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/gbr/2000-01-inf-eng.pdf
CPT UK – Isle of Man 2003 Report
https://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/gbr/2005-01-inf-eng.pdf
The work (particularly the country inspections) carried out by the CPT over the past 25 years have been critical in protecting rights and improving conditions in prisons and other custody centres in Europe.
The CPT now carries out its monitoring duties in 47 countries of the Council of Europe.
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
26/01/15
(Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.)
ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues
Internet site at:
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league