CAT/C/COG/CO/1
prisons in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and Owando as well as other parts of the country,
although the construction schedule and completion dates for these projects have not been
specified. The Committee finds regrettable the lack of information on the legal and
regulatory framework governing the rights of detainees, disciplinary sanctions, monitoring
regulations and the segregation of remand prisoners from convicted prisoners and of minors
from adults (arts. 2, 11 and 16).
The State party should, as a matter of urgency:
(a)
Ensure that detention conditions in the country’s prisons are in line with
international standards;
(b)
Intensify its efforts to reduce prison overcrowding, including by
adopting alternatives to deprivation of liberty for minor offences;
(c)
Make available to prisons appropriate resources to provide health-care
services and ensure that all detainees have access to medical assistance;
(d)
Provide
undernourishment;
prisons
with
appropriate
resources
to
eliminate
(e)
Continue to implement plans to improve and develop the infrastructure
of prisons and provide separate detention facilities for juvenile offenders and women;
(f)
Take steps to increase the number and quality of training programmes
for prison officials;
(g)
Consider revising the legal and regulatory framework governing the
organization and operation of prisons;
(h)
Cooperate with NGOs that conduct monitoring activities and provide
them with support;
(i)
Set up social reintegration programmes for prisoners.
Universal jurisdiction in criminal matters
14.
The Committee notes that the State party has no legislation establishing universal
criminal jurisdiction over torture. The Committee takes note of the State party’s statement
that, pursuant to the reform of the codes, provisions on the fulfilment of its obligations
under article 5 of the Convention against Torture will be incorporated into domestic law
(art. 5).
The Committee invites the State party to incorporate into its domestic legislation
provisions establishing universal criminal jurisdiction in keeping with article 5 of the
Convention against Torture.
Complaints and the protection of victims and witnesses
15.
The Committee takes note of the information provided by the State party that all
persons who claim to be victims of acts of torture may lodge a complaint with the
competent court and that any threats against witnesses or victims are punishable. However,
the Committee is concerned at the low number of complaints, which is reportedly due to the
deterioration and sluggishness of legal proceedings, the fear of reprisals and the lack of
effective legal aid (art. 13).
The Committee invites the State party to:
(a)
Put in place the necessary conditions to ensure that all victims of torture
or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment can file a complaint;
GE.15-10644
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