CAT/C/39/2 page 48 PART TWO: COMMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF BRAZIL ON THE REPORT PRODUCED BY THE COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE, UNDER ARTICLE 20 OF THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT (CAT/C/36/R.1./Add.1) 197. On June 8 2006 the conclusions resulting from the investigation carried out by the Committee Against Torture (CAT) in Brazil, expressed in document CAT/C/36/R.1/Add.1, “Report on Brazil, produced by the Committee Against Torture, under article 20 of the Convention”, were transmitted to the Government of Brazil. 198. Taking into account especially the observations and recommendations made by the Committee, the present document comments and clarifies some of the points contained in the Report and updates information on measures taken by the Brazilian government to prevent and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Introduction 199. The Brazilian Government expresses its appreciation to the Committee against Torture (CAT) for the transmission of the report on Brazil, produced under article 20 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Both the Report and the in loco visit of the delegation from the Committee Against Torture that preceded it (13-29 July 2005) represent important elements of cooperation to strengthen prevention and the struggle against torture and other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment in Brazil. 200. The Brazilian Government expresses its appreciation for the recognition in the report of the Committee of the degree of openness and cooperation by its authorities for the organization and realization of the visit. The Brazilian Government is convinced that a frank, constructive and ongoing dialogue with the Committee may contribute to additional progress in human rights in the country. 201. Since Brazil is one of the countries that have received most Special Procedures visits from the Commission/Council on Human Rights, the mission of a “treaty body” such as CAT to Brazil has also been useful to strengthen transparent and good faith dialogue between Brazil and all international mechanisms for the protection of human rights. 202. Since September 28 1989 Brazil has been a party to the Convention Against Torture. The Convention and its corresponding regional instrument - the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture, ratified in June 1989 - were the first human rights treaties to which Brazil adhered after the return to democracy and the adoption of the 1988 Constitution. Their ratification preceded adherence to the more general instruments of promotion and protection of human rights, such as the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the American Convention on Human Rights. It is thus evident that the struggle against torture is one of the first priorities in the Brazilian policy on human rights.