A/HRC/25/60/Add.2 discontinuation of the medication. In this context, the Special Rapporteur would like to draw the Government’s attention to article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ratified by New Zealand on 28 December 1978, which provides inter alia for the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health. This includes the right to be free from non-consensual medical treatment. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the Government’s obligation under paragraph 19 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to safeguard the individual’s ability to exercise informed consent in health, and protect the individual against abuses as a fundamental aspect of protecting the right to health. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur reiterates his 2013 report to the Human Rights Council, which states in paragraph 64 that both the mandate and United Nations treaty bodies have established that involuntary treatment and other psychiatric interventions in health-care facilities -except under limited circumstances of immediate risk of harm to self or others- are forms of torture and ill-treatment (A/63/175, paras. 44, 47, 61, 63; Human Rights Committee, communication No. 110/1981, Viana Acosta v. Uruguay, paras. 2.7, 14, 15.) and that to the extent that they inflict severe pain and suffering, they violate the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment (A/63/175, paras. 38, 40, 41). In turn, the Special Rapporteur notes that paragraph 1 of Human Rights Council Resolution 16/23, adopted in April 2011, “Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified, and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute and nonderogable prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to assess its compliance with the above obligations and principles with regards to the medical treatment of Mr.X. Also, where appropriate, the Special Rapporteur urges the Government to adopt community integration as a method of treatment to further support the dignity, autonomy, equality and participation of persons with mental disabilities. Norway (a) JUA 04/04/2013 Case No. NOR 1/2013 State Reply: None to date Alleged imminent risk of deportation of Mr. Mohammad Anwar Baloch to Pakistan, where he risks torture for criticizing the Government of Pakistan. 116. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the government of Norway has not responded to this communication, thereby failing to cooperate with the mandate issued by the Human Rights Council. The communication referred to the alleged imminent risk of deportation of Mr. Mohammad Anwar Baloch, an asylum seeker and human rights defender from Pakistan. According to the information received, Mr. Anwar was appointed as a member of Baloch/Qaum Dost Committee, which was established for the purpose of negotiating the release of a UN official, Mr. John Solecki, who was kidnapped in Balochistan province. After the release of Mr. Solecki, the Committee discontinued its existence. Reportedly, five of its members were abducted by Pakistani security agents, three allegedly died in custody, two are missing, and another four members are in hiding. For fear of being abducted or killed, Mr. Anwar fled to Norway. While in Norway, Mr. Anwar continued his political and human rights activities including organizing protests and meetings in relation to the alleged human rights abuses in Balochistan by Pakistani army and security forces. According to the source, if returned to Pakistan, Mr. Anwar would be at risk of enforced disappearance, torture and being killed by the Pakistani Security Forces for his journalist, political and human rights activities. In this context, the Special Rapporteur reminds the government of Norway that article 3 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, acceded to by Norway on 9 July 1986, provides that 85

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