- 28 VIII. CONCLUDING REMARKS 97. The making of the Convention and the establishment of the CPT were revolutionary steps for the international community. For the first time a group of States has set up an international body of independent experts endowed with broad monitoring powers in the area of human rights. This body has been granted the unprecedented right to enter the territory of sovereign States and visit, free from any impediment, all places where persons are deprived of their liberty by a public authority. An enlightened Swiss citizen (J.J. Gautier), two non-governmental organisations (the Swiss Committee Against Torture and the International Commission of Jurists) and the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly deserve credit for this major breakthrough in the human rights field. But no less commendation should be given to the exemplary action of the member States of the Council of Europe in accepting such a significant international inroad into an extremely delicate area of domestic jurisdiction. It is thanks to the efforts of all of them that the CPT has been established and is now operational. 98. The CPT has been set up to contribute to the protection of human dignity. In its daily work, it puts into practice and gives life to the lofty ideals of two thinkers of the Enlightenment: Cesare Beccaria and Immanuel Kant. Through its actions the CPT gives teeth to Beccaria's scathing condemnation of torture and similar unacceptable practices and realises the concept of "humanity" propounded by Kant. 99. The CPT has endeavoured to meet three important requirements in its activities: professionalism, impartiality and the constant willingness to co-operate with States, based on the conviction that the best way of attaining its objectives is through a constructive dialogue with States. Of course, it is not for the Committee itself to appraise the extent to which it has succeeded in meeting those requirements. Whatever assessment be made of its action, the CPT is keenly aware of the heavy moral responsibility it must shoulder; it will spare no effort in living up to the high standards that it has set itself and that can legitimately be expected of it. 100. Finally, the CPT is pleased to note that it has enjoyed throughout the full support both of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe and of the Committee of Ministers. It has also greatly benefited from the skill and dedication of its Secretariat. To all of them the CPT would like to express its profound gratitude.