Prems 47414 These guidelines are a practical tool for policymakers and justice sector stakeholders to support them in the establishment of an effective national system of investigations of allegations of ill-treatment by law-enforcement bodies with a view to fight impunity. They are based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the standards of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and other authoritative international sources as the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights www.coe.int/justice The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European Union. All Council of Europe member states have signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states. ENG