E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.4
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public inquiry on torture. Beginning in January 2005, it is to culminate in a report with
recommendations in December. The inquiry is expected to include a comprehensive array of
activities to be carried out across the country, in Orkhan, Darkhan-Uul, Tuv, Dornod and
Huvsgul aimags (provinces), as well as in Ulaanbaatar. Among other things, the activities will
include: a comparative analysis of relevant laws with international standards; consultative
meetings with the judiciary, lawyers, and civil society; an analysis of complaints received by the
Investigation Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Inspection Board of the
National Police as well as prosecution offices; an investigation of conditions of detention in pretrial and prison facilities; public awareness campaigns; and an analysis of impunity. Public
hearings on the findings will be held and will be disseminated through the mass media. The
Special Rapporteur warmly welcomes the public inquiry, one of the first such initiatives ever
carried out by a national human rights institution. He praises the commitment of the
commissioners and staff, and expresses strong support for their efforts to eradicate torture and
their excellent assistance during his visit.
6.
The Special Rapporteur met with members of Parliament Ms. O. Sanjaasuren and
Mr. L. Gundalai; representatives of numerous NGOs, including Amnesty International
Mongolia, the Centre for Human Rights and Development, the Liberty Centre, the Mongolian
Women Lawyer’s Association, the National Centre Against Violence and Prisoner Fellowship
Mongolia; as well as lawyers.
7.
The Special Rapporteur met with members of the diplomatic community, including
Ambassadors N. Chapuis (France), R. Austen (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland) and P. Slutz (United States of America). He met representatives of the United Nations
Country Team in Mongolia, including UNDP, UNICEF and UNHCR.
8.
From 7 to 9 June 2005, the Special Rapporteur visited the following facilities and
interviewed detainees and staff there: Prison No. 421 (Amgalan), ordinary regime; the Centre for
Forced Detention, Ulaanbaatar; Detention Centre No. 461 (Gants Hudag), pre-trial detention
centre; Prison No. 413 (Zuunkharaa), strict regime; Prison No. 429 (Tashireen Am, also known
as Tangaar Nam or Takhir Soyot Tuberculosis Hospital); Prison No. 405 (Tashireen Am
maximum security prison, also known as Tangaar Nam or Takhir Soyot), ordinary, strict and
special regimes; and Zuunmod Detention Centre, pre-trial detention centre.
9.
The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government for inviting him to
visit the country. During his visit he received full cooperation, particularly from the Deputy
Minister of Justice and Home Affairs and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was
however, unable to meet the President-elect, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Minister of
Justice and Home Affairs. The lack of support from certain parts of the Government led to a
serious violation of the terms of reference for the visit. Although it had been agreed that the
Special Rapporteur would be permitted access to all relevant information, to visit any place of
detention and to speak to any detainees, he was consistently and despite repeated requests denied
all information related to the death penalty and access to prisoners on death row. His conclusions
on the conditions on death row therefore have to be based on well-substantiated allegations of
witnesses, family members and NGOs.
10.
He also expresses his appreciation for the assistance of the United Nations Resident
Coordinator, Ms. P. Mehta; Ms. E. McArthur of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human