UK proposes candidates for Council of Europe torture prevention committee
Three candidates have been nominated to be the next United Kingdom member of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).
Three candidates have been nominated to be the next United Kingdom member of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).
The CPT is an independent expert body that inspects prisons, police stations and other places where people are deprived of their liberty. It makes confidential recommendations to governments to prevent torture and inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
One member of the CPT is elected in respect of each of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe, from a list of three candidates nominated by that State. A CPT member never inspects their own country.
Following an open selection process, the United Kingdom candidates are:
- Ms Francesca Del Mese, a barrister working on United Nations projects;
- Dr James McManus, the current UK member of the CPT; and
- The Rt Hon Lord (David) Trimble, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland.
One of these candidates will be elected in February 2014 for a four-year term of office.