The Netherlands Helsinki Committee launches an essay contest on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). The prize winner will be announced at a conference on the prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in Europe, which is being organized by the NHC. The conference will take place in The Hague in January 2015.
The essays can be submitted on one of the following subjects:
1. To what extent do you (dis)agree with the following statement: “In formal terms, CPT reports and recommendations are not legally binding but possess only moral and political force”;
2. Suggest an effective national complaint mechanism to ensure the protection of detainees with regard to torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Address the goals the complaint system should try to achieve, the method to achieve them and an analyses of its effectiveness in practice (use examples from legal systems within Europe);
3. Explain and comment on the modern developments and practices used by the CoE and its Member States to tackle impunity. Analyze the feasibility and the effects that passing legislation similar to the Magnitsky Act would have in Europe.
The jury will be composed of CPT representatives and prominent academics in the field. The author of the winning essay will be announced during the conference and will receive a prize of €1000.
Who Can Participate: Students and recent graduates (graduated in the last 2 years)
Deadline for submission: 15 December 2014
Read more and apply here.
Loading tweets...