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Doc. 11093
7 November 2006
Creation of a European Prisons Observatory
Motion for a resolution
presented by Mr Hunault and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it |
The Assembly recalls Recommendation 1656 (2004) on the situation of European prisons and pre-trial detention centres, adopted on 27 April 2004, in which it recommended the drawing up of a European Prisons Charter.
It also recalls Recommendation 1747 (2006) of 29 May 2006 incorporating the draft European Prisons Charter, which followed on from the draft recommendation tabled by Mr Hunault and others on 15 October 2004 [see Docs 10922 and 10332].
The Assembly welcomes the statements by the President of the European Commission and the President of the Council of the European Union before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 11 April 2006, advocating reinforcing the links between the European institutions and the strengthening of the Council of Europe’s role in ensuring respect for human rights.
It is pleased to note the views expressed by the Chairperson of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) at her hearing before the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on 13 April 2006, supporting the creation of a European Prisons Observatory.
Consequently, the Assembly decides to examine in detail the issue of setting up a European Prisons Observatory.
Aims and missions of the Observatory
The European Prisons Observatory shall endeavour to ensure respect for prisoners’ rights and implementation of the principles and rules governing prisons set out in the conventions and resolutions of the various European authorities.
To that end, the Observatory is mandated to co-ordinate the activities and roles of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the European Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Council of Europe, the General Secretariat of the European Union and the national supervisory bodies, and also of the NGOs and voluntary associations involved in monitoring conditions in all places of detention.
In conducting its work the Observatory will establish co-operation among the various institutions and co-ordinate awareness campaigns and supervisory and rehabilitative activities for persons deprived of their liberty, in close co-operation with the prison administrations, which are the generally accepted partners for such work.
The Observatory’s role will involve not only co-ordination, but also harmonising the instruments used for supervising and monitoring prison rules and standards.
The Observatory shall have appropriate secretarial services and the necessary resources for its work in the member countries, drawing, in particular, on the network of national prevention mechanisms established under the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OP-CAT).
The Observatory shall be based in Strasbourg, the headquarters of the Council of Europe.
Signed 1:
HUNAULT, Michel, France, EDG
ALEKSANDROV, Alexey, Russian Federation, EDG
ALEVRAS, Athanasios, Greece, SOC
ARNAUT, José, Luis, Portugal, EPP/CD
ATEŞ, Abdülkadir, Turkey, SOC
BARTUMEU CASSANY, Jaume, Andorra, SOC
BEMELMANS-VIDEC, Marie-Louise, Netherlands, EPP/CD
CILEVIČS, Boriss, Latvia, SOC
FEDOROV, Valery, Russian Federation, EDG
FRUNDA, György, Romania, EPP/CD
GREBENNIKOV, Valery, Russian Federation, EDG
HOLOVATY, Serhiy, Ukraine, ALDE
KELEMEN, András, Hungary, EPP/CD
KUKAN, Eduard, Slovakia, EPP/CD
MARCENARO, Pietro, Italy, SOC
POPESCU, Ivan, Ukraine, SOC
STĂNOIU, Rodica, Mihaela, Romania, SOC
WOHLWEND, Renate, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD
ZAREMBA, Krzysztof, Poland, EPP/CD
ŽUŽUL, Miomir, Croatia, EPP/CD
1 SOC: Socialist Group
EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s
Party
ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
for Europe
EDG: European Democratic Group
UEL:
Group of the Unified European Left
NR: not
registered in a group