CAT/C/AND/CO/1
Monitoring of police action
10.
The Committee is concerned at the absence of an independent body to monitor
police action and investigate allegations and complaints of ill-treatment by members of the
police force (arts. 2, 10, 12, 13 and 16).
The State party should establish an independent mechanism to monitor action by the
police and investigate allegations and complaints of ill-treatment by members of the
police force and ensure that law enforcement officials receive training on the absolute
prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.
Discrimination, hate speech and violence against vulnerable groups
11.
The Committee is concerned at the absence of specific legislation to prevent and
punish discrimination and incitement to violence, as well as measures against hate speech
and other hate crimes (arts. 2, 12, 13, and 16).
The State party should take all necessary measures to prohibit and punish
discrimination and incitement to violence against vulnerable groups and ensure that
all hate crimes are always investigated, prosecuted and the perpetrators convicted and
punished. In addition, the State party should take all necessary measures to prevent
and condemn hate speech.
National human rights institution
12.
While noting the State party’s commitment during the universal periodic review in
November 2010 to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the
Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles), the
Committee is concerned that such an institution has not yet been established three years
later (art. 2).
The Committee recommends that the State party establish an independent national
institution for the promotion and protection of human rights, with an appropriate
mandate and adequate financial and staffing resources, in full compliance with the
Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles) and
request accreditation from the International Coordinating Committee of National
Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
Violence against women
13.
The Committee is concerned at the absence of specific legislation prohibiting all
forms of violence against women and children, including domestic and sexual violence, as
well as marital rape, and at the low number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions
of the perpetrators of acts of violence against women (arts. 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16).
The State party should:
(a)
Amend its legislation with a view to ensuring that all forms of violence
against women and children are offences under the Criminal Code, including
domestic and sexual violence and rape;
(b)
Ensure that reports of domestic violence, including sexual violence and
violence against children, are registered by the police, that such incidences of violence
are promptly, impartially and effectively investigated and perpetrators prosecuted
and punished in accordance with the gravity of their acts;
(c)
Sensitize and train law enforcement personnel and judicial officials in
the Public Prosecutor’s Office in investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic
violence and conduct awareness-raising campaigns for the general public;
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