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France - OPCAT Situation

Updated 08.05.2013

France decided to create a specialised institution dedicated to torture prevention  before ratifying the OPCAT. In 2007, a legislation was passed to establish the General Controller of Places of Deprivation of Liberty and the mandate-holder was appointed in 2008 for a six-year term. Shortly after, France ratified the OPCAT.

As of September 2012, the French NPM is composed of approximately 40 staff, of which 25 are full-time. It has been granted with a 3 million EUROS annual budget.

The SPT member Petros Michaelides is the SPT Focal Point for France.

Opcat status
OPCAT Ratification November 11, 2008
OPCAT Ratification comment

OPCAT ratification law n°0176 on 30 July 2008

UNCAT Ratification February 18, 1986
SPT Member Mr. Olivier Obrecht (2011-2014)
NPM Designated

General Inspector of Places of Deprivation of Liberty

NPM Type

New Specialised Institution

NPM Legal Framework

General Controller law, n°2007-1545 of 30 October 2007 (French version

General Controller law (English unofficial version) of 30 October 2007

General Controller implementing decree n° 2008-246 of 12 March 2008

Decree nomination Jean-Marie Delarue of 13 June 2008

Information
Population 65 630 692
Area (sq km) 643 801
Number of prisons 191
Prison population 67 373
Quick links

UPR: Report of the Working Group and France's Response (2008)

CAT: Concluding Observations (May 2010)

CPT:Report (December 2010) and France's Response; Report of visit in Guyana (November 2008) and Response; Report of visit in La Réunion (December 2004) and Response; Report of visit in Martinique (July 1994) and Government's Observations

Commissioner for Human Rights (Council of Europe): Report (2005)