DIGNITY’s legal director continues as Vice President of the important body that works to prevent torture in Council of Europe member states
54-year-old Therese Rytter was re-elected on Wednesday for a new term as Vice President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which is part of the Council of Europe.
»I’m very honoured to have been re-elected as Vice President of the CPT«, says Therese Rytter, who is DIGNITY’s Legal Director.
»The CPT is an extraordinary institution, which has contributed significantly to preventing and combating torture in police stations, prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and immigration detention centres across the Council of Europe’s member states«, she adds.
The CPT visits institutions in Council of Europe member states where persons are deprived of their liberty and monitors how they are treated. CPT delegations have unimpeded access to the institutions and access to speak confidentially with prisoners, staff and others who can provide information about the conditions.
After the visits, the CPT submits a report to the government of the visited country. The report contains CPT observations and recommendations and is part of the continued dialogue with the government.
»The work of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture is particularly important these years as illiberal democracies are on the rise and the ugly face of torture is emerging in new contexts, such as in connection with violent pushbacks at the EU’s external borders and in the form of brutal assaults and war crimes during armed conflicts«, says Therese Rytter.
