United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee - I. Denmark 171. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Denmark (CAT/C/34/Add.3) at its 287th and 288th meetings, on 1 May 1997 (CAT/C/SR.287 and 288), and formulated the following conclusions and recommendations. 1. Introduction 172. The Committee thanks the Government of Denmark for its frank cooperation, demonstrated among other things by its third periodic report, which was submitted on time. Not only was the report prepared in accordance with the general guidelines regarding the form and content of periodic reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention, but it also contained abundant information which facilitated a constructive dialogue. 173. The Committee also thanks the Danish delegation for its frank replies to the questions raised by members of the Committee. 2. Positive aspects 174. The Committee notes with satisfaction the commitment of the Government of Denmark to the reforms of the judicial system in Greenland. 175. The Committee also considers the State party's efforts to ensure that the composition of the police corps reflects the diversity of the population to be another very positive aspect. 176. The Committee views as very important the fact that the subject of "human rights" appears in the basic training of the police. 177. The Committee can only welcome the fact that the Government grants subsidies to independent, private organizations involved with the rehabilitation of torture victims. 3. Factors and difficulties impeding the application of the provisions of the Convention 178. The Committee notes the difficulties of Denmark in incorporating the provisions of the Convention into Danish law, given its commitment to the "dualist" system. 4. Subjects of concern 179. The Committee is concerned that there may still be some doubts as to the legal status of the Convention in domestic law, particularly with regard to the possibility of invoking the Convention before the Danish courts and the competence of the courts to apply its provisions ex officio. 180. The Committee is also concerned that Denmark has still not introduced the offence of torture into its penal system, including a definition of torture in conformity with article 1 of the Convention. http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/de75e94f920bd0a0802565a600537744?Opendocument (31 of 109)16/10/2006 9:54:12 AM