132. The Committee welcomes with appreciation the additional written and oral information
provided, as well as the attendance of a high-level delegation, which demonstrates the State
party’s willingness to maintain an open and fruitful dialogue with the Committee.
B. Positive aspects
133.
The Committee notes with appreciation:
(a)
The adoption of the 1999 Extradition Act, responding to the Committee’s
previous recommendations;
(b)
The cooperation undertaken with the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees and the willingness to comply with its guidelines and
recommendations;
(c)
That the Mangere Accommodation Centre can be considered to be more of an
open centre than a detention centre;
(d)
The Police Detention Legal Assistance Scheme, which provides for initial free
legal advice to be obtained by persons in police custody;
(e)
Legislative and administrative developments that enhance compliance with the
Convention, in particular the 2000 Protocol between the Department of Corrections and the
Ombudsman’s Office, the 1998 amendment to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act,
and the 2000 International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act;
(f)
Measures taken to improve the effectiveness and strengthen the independence of
the Police Complaints Authority;
(g)
The efforts undertaken to promote a positive relationship between the police and
Maori;
(h)
Facilities;
The efforts undertaken to establish new Child, Youth and Family Residential
(i)
The ongoing elaboration of a national plan of action on human rights by the
Human Rights Commission;
(j)
The declared intent to withdraw reservations to the Convention against Torture
and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to ratify the Optional Protocol to the former
Convention.
C. Subjects of concern
134.
The Committee expresses concern about:
(a)
The fact that the immigration legislation does not include the non-refoulement
obligation provided for in article 3 of the Convention;
62
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents