Appendices 8. Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1968 (2011) on “Strengthening torture prevention mechanisms in Europe” and reply of the Committee of Ministers Recommendation 1968 (2011) adopted by the Assembly on 14 April 2011 1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1808 (2011) on strengthening torture prevention mechanisms in Europe and invites the Committee of Ministers to: 1.1. set in motion the process of amending the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ETS No. 126) to permit: 1.1.1. the election by the Parliamentary Assembly of members of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT); 1.1.2. the automatic publication of the visit reports and of the comments of the parties concerned, providing the possibility for each party to request postponement of publication for up to six months after transmission; 1.2. place on its agenda and discuss as a matter of urgency any public statement adopted by the CPT under Article 10 of the convention, and to adopt a resolution on it as appropriate. Reply of the Committee of Ministers adopted on 15 February 2012 at the 1134th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies 1. The Committee of Ministers notes with interest Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1968 (2011) on “Strengthening torture prevention mechanisms in Europe”, which it has communicated to the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) and to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) for information and possible comments. The Committee of Ministers takes this opportunity to underline the importance which it attaches to the work of the CPT and its independence. 2. With respect to the concrete proposals made in the Assembly’s recommendation, the Committee of Ministers sees no need to amend the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention) as suggested by the Assembly, i.e. in order to permit i) the election of members of the CPT by the Parliamentary Assembly, and ii) the automatic publication of CPT visit reports and of the responses of the Parties concerned, subject to the possibility of a State to request postponement of publication for up to six months after transmission of the visit report. 61