- 20 f)
Co-operation of the States visited
69.
Co-operation between the CPT's delegations and national authorities at ministerial level has almost
invariably been very good, though some divergences of opinion have arisen as regards the interpretation of the
Convention and the importance of the Explanatory Report (see paragraphs 74 to 77). Moreover, there has on
the whole been a satisfactory degree of co-operation between the delegations and the authorities in charge at the
places visited. However, a certain amount of reticence has on occasion been met, in particular in police
establishments. This may be explained to some extent by a lack of information on the part of the officials
directly concerned. In this regard, the CPT hopes that Parties will step up efforts to disseminate information
about the Committee's existence, powers and objectives (see also paragraphs 91 to 93).
g)
The CPT's reports to the States visited
70.
Initially the CPT decided that each visiting delegation should submit to the plenary CPT a distinct
delegation report on the visit. After discussion in the CPT, this report was then to be transformed, in the light
of the comments made during the discussion, into a draft report from the CPT to the Government concerned,
for consideration and adoption at the following meeting. This procedure was applied in two instances, but
proved cumbersome and time-consuming. It was consequently decided to streamline it, by requesting that each
delegation immediately prepare a draft CPT report on the visit conducted, accompanied if appropriate by
additional background material for the Committee's consideration. This will mean that it should often be
possible to finalise and adopt a visit report in the space of one meeting of the CPT.
71.
As concerns the time-span for the preparation of reports, the CPT's objective is to have visit reports
sent to the Party concerned not later than six months after the end of the visit. This deadline has been - or
should be - met as regards four of the CPT's first five visits. Unfortunately, the report on the other visit will
probably only be finalised some eight months after the visit took place. This is due to the present shortage of
manpower in the Secretariat (soon to be remedied - see paragraph 90) as well as to the Committee's attention
being in part directed to the creation and modification of working methods and procedures.
72.
To date the CPT's visit reports have been adopted by consensus, without a vote being taken.
73.
The CPT is, of course, unable to disclose the contents of the reports (Article 11, paragraph 1, of the
Convention stipulates as follows: "The information gathered by the Committee in relation to a visit, its report
and its consultations with the Party concerned shall be confidential" (*). However, it may be of interest that, as
regards their structure, it has been decided not to make all reports conform to a rigid format, but rather to
prepare them as warranted by the specific case. Nevertheless, the CPT will try to produce reports that have
some basic elements of presentation in common.
______
(*)
However, Rule 42 (2) of the CPT's Rules of Procedure provides that if a Party publishes a CPT visit
report, but does not publish the entire report, the Committee itself may decide to publish the whole
report (see also paragraph 77 of the Explanatory Report on the Convention).
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