Preventing Torture

In the 19th century the prohibition of judicial torture was celebrated as a triumph of civilization. But in the aftermath of World War II, it was necessary for the international community to re-emphasize, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its abhorrence of torture: the proscription of torture became part of international customary law. But torture by agents of contemporary states persists, not least in the heart of Europe where reliance on the use of custody is growing once again. This documentary and empirical study considers in detail the work of the latest actor on the international stage attempting to prevent torture. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the CPT), established in 1989, represents a new phase in international human rights intervention. The Council of Europe member states have given a Strasbourg-based Committee of experts an almost unfettered hand to examine their places of custody and report on what they find. This book is intended for researchers and practitoners of international and human rights law, criminologists and scholars of international relations, members of human rights orga

This is an excellent book on an emerging institution that is as yet little known, particularly in the United States. It is especially recommended for those, such as NGO lawyers and activists, who have a keen interest in this important but little studied subject., an intelligent, thoroughly informative account of European efforts to prevent torture and inhumane conditions of confinement ... The authors' impressive research on the confidential procedure employs original sources and interviews to present a comprehensive overview of an initial eight-year period ... The study adds immeasurably to earlier work by effectively summarizing previously reported details of treaty negotiation to examine implementation ... This highly recommended reference for human rights scholars and students should also inform general readers in Europe and beyond.

Malcolm Evans is Reader in International Law at the University of Bristol.Rod Morgan is Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice at the University of Bristol.