In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done at Istanbul, this 11th day of May 2011, in English and in French, both texts being equally

authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The

Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of

the Council of Europe, to the non-member States which have participated in the elaboration of this

Convention, to the European Union and to any State invited to accede to this Convention.

Appendix – Privileges and immunities (Article 66)

1 This appendix shall apply to the members of GREVIO mentioned in Article 66 of the Convention, as

well as to other members of the country visit delegations. For the purpose of this appendix, the

term “other members of the country visit delegations” shall include the independent national

experts and the specialists mentioned in Article 68, paragraph 9, of the Convention, staff members

of the Council of Europe and interpreters employed by the Council of Europe accompanying

GREVIO during its country visits.

2 The members of GREVIO and the other members of the country visit delegations shall, while

exercising their functions relating to the preparation and the carrying out of country visits, as well

as the follow-up thereto, and travelling in connection with those functions, enjoy the following

privileges and immunities:

a immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage, and

immunity from legal process of every kind in respect of words spoken or written and all acts

performed by them in their official capacity;

b exemption from any restrictions on their freedom of movement on exit from and return to

their country of residence, and entry into and exit from the country in which they exercise their

functions, and from alien registration in the country which they are visiting or through which

they are passing in the exercise of their functions.

3 In the course of journeys undertaken in the exercise of their functions, the members of GREVIO and

the other members of the country visit delegations shall, in the matter of customs and exchange

control, be accorded the same facilities as those accorded to representatives of foreign governments

on temporary official duty.

4 The documents relating to the evaluation of the implementation of the Convention carried by

members of GREVIO and other members of the country visit delegations shall be inviolable insofar

as they concern the activity of GREVIO. No stoppage or censorship shall be applied to the official

correspondence of GREVIO or to official communications of members of GREVIO and other

members of the country visit delegations.

5 In order to secure for the members of GREVIO and the other members of the country visit

delegations complete freedom of speech and complete independence in the discharge of their

duties, the immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and all acts done by

them in discharging their duties shall continue to be accorded, notwithstanding that the persons

concerned are no longer engaged in the discharge of such duties.

6 Privileges and immunities are granted to the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of this appendix in

order to safeguard the independent exercise of their functions in the interests of GREVIO and not

for their personal benefit. The waiver of immunities of the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of

this appendix shall be made by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in any case where, in

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