TITLE:
External Mechanisms and Prison Regimes: Assessing the Work of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
AUTHORS:
Gustavo Henrique Holanda Dias Kershaw, Adriana Conrado de Almeida
KEYWORDS:
Human Rights, Prisons, Prison Regime, External Mechanisms, Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT
JOURNAL NAME:
Beijing Law Review,
Vol.13 No.4,
December
9,
2022
ABSTRACT: This article evaluates the work of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and argues that the mechanism plays an important and effective role in preventing torture and degrading treatment, whilst exerting substantial influence on prison regimes. In addition, it points out the difficulties in measuring such influence, as well as the problems in the performance of the CPT that demand further reflection. To substantiate the arguments presented, this article will be based on research carried out and published on the work of the CPT and the reports of the Committee. The methodology used for this investigation is a wide range of articles on the subject that are focused on the Committee in Europe. As well as articles on the subject, the CPT’s reports between 2007 and 2021 are analysed.