CAT/C/63/4
51.
Further, detention measures must be applied in pursuit of a legitimate purpose. In the
context of immigration detention, a “legitimate purpose” is the same for asylum seekers and
migrants as it is for anyone else: when someone presents a risk of absconding from future
legal proceedings or administrative procedures or presents a danger to his or her own
security or the security of the public. The irregular entry by asylum seekers and migrants
should not in itself be criminalized.
V. Reflections on the year under review
A.
Capacity of national preventive mechanisms to work effectively in a
preventive manner and the “preventive package”
52.
In the light of its experiences over the last year, the Subcommittee considers it
appropriate to reiterate the importance of national preventive mechanisms having true
functional independence and being able to work with a preventive spirit, identifying
potential risks of torture and ill-treatment, highlighting gaps in human rights protection and
making recommendations of a practical nature to address matters of concern.
53.
The Subcommittee is increasingly aware that even if they have a legal mandate to do
so, not all national preventive mechanisms feel able to gain access to all places where
people are being or may be deprived of liberty; to all persons deprived of liberty and to all
information relevant to the mandate; and to have the right to interview detainees
confidentially. Not only must they have the legal mandate to do so, they need the
independence to be able to decide to do so, the means to do so and the confidence that they
will in practice be capable of doing so.
54.
The Subcommittee is of the view that a national preventive mechanism should also
be empowered and able to deliver the whole “preventive package”, including examining
patterns of practices from which risks of torture may arise; advocacy, such as commenting
on draft and implementing legislation; providing public education; undertaking capacitybuilding; and actively engaging with State authorities. The Subcommittee emphasizes that
this requires sufficient resourcing; appropriate privileges and immunities; and access to the
Subcommittee for advice and assistance.
B.
State party obligations
55.
The Subcommittee reiterates the need for all States parties to understand the
Optional Protocol and ensure that their obligations to the Subcommittee under the Optional
Protocol are met. In that regard, it is fundamental that States parties do not, directly or
indirectly, actively or otherwise, hinder the Subcommittee in fully carrying out its visiting
mandate, in accordance with articles 12 and 14 of the Optional Protocol. That includes,
inter alia, the obligation to provide the Subcommittee with all necessary information,
including all the documentation that it requests, both prior to and during the visit; the
obligation to ensure the Subcommittee has unhindered access to all places under its
jurisdiction where people are or may be deprived of their liberty; the opportunity to have
private interviews with persons deprived of their liberty and others, including but not
limited to guards, officers and professional and managerial staff of the facilities being
visited. The Subcommittee has set out those obligations on numerous occasions. It
appreciates that it might be helpful for it to explain early and clearly the requirements of the
Optional Protocol to those States about to be visited, during the preparatory phase, and it
will ensure that this is done.
C.
Article 16 (4) of the Optional Protocol
56.
If a State party refuses to cooperate with the Subcommittee or fails to provide an
enabling environment within which the Subcommittee can fulfil its mandate in accordance
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