The report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (“the CPT”), which is among the monitoring mechanisms of the Council of Europe, on its visit to Turkey from 21 to 28 June 2012 to examine the treatment and detention conditions of children in prisons, based on Article 8 § 1 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“the Convention”) and the Government’s response to this report have been published today (10 October 2013) by the CPT, following the Government’s authorization. The documents are accessible at the CPT’s website, www.cpt.coe.int.

During the program, the CPT delegation visited İstanbul Maltepe Prison, Sincan Juveniles Prison, Diyarbakır Prison and Gaziantep Prison. The delegation also met officials at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Health and Interior.

The findings, recommendations and requests for information contained in the CPT’s report prepared in the light of the visit of 21-28 June 2012 have been communicated to the relevant institutions and the implementation of those recommendations is underway within the context of our cooperation with the CPT.

The Convention for the Prevention of Torture, which was opened for signature on 26 November 1987 and to which Turkey became a party in 1988, stipulates that the conditions in which persons, deprived of their liberty by public authorities in States parties, are held should be monitored by an international independent committee. The CPT, which has been established for this purpose, monitors the implementation of the Convention by carrying out periodic or ad hoc visits to States parties, draws the attention of the relevant Government to its findings with a confidential report, makes recommendations and requests response to its reports. The relevant Government may authorize the publication of the CPT’s report and the Government’s responses.

So far, all reports prepared by the CPT following its visits to Turkey have been published, along with our Government’s responses, following the Government’s authorization. This particular report by the CPT displays the progress achieved and the improvements recorded on the laws and implementation relating to the juvenile justice system. Turkey attaches importance to the independent monitoring mechanisms of the Council of Europe and strives to follow the recommendations of such mechanisms in line with its obligations stemming from the conventions to which she is a party.