CAT/C/TKM/CO/2
(b)
Ensure that asylum seekers, including detainees, have access to
independent, qualified and free legal advice and representation, that their protection
needs are duly recognized and that refoulement is prevented;
(c)
Establish a system for collecting and providing the following data to the
Committee and other relevant observers, for the period from 2012 to the present:
(i)
The number of asylum applications received;
(ii)
The number of foreigners who have been expelled, returned or otherwise
refused entry at the borders, and to which countries;
(iii)
The number of foreigners detained in detention facilities;
(iv) The number of individuals whose asylum applications are pending with
the authorities.
Involuntary placement and medical treatment in psychiatric hospitals and
neuropsychological institutions
35.
The Committee is concerned that persons with psychosocial disorders and mental
disabilities may be placed in psychiatric hospitals and neuropsychological institutions
without their consent. It remains concerned about reports that psychiatric hospitals continue
to be misused to detain persons for non-medical reasons, including non-violent expression
of political views (arts. 2, 11-13 and 16).
36.
The Committee reiterates the recommendation contained in its previous
concluding observations (see CAT/C/TKM/CO/1, para. 17) that the State party:
(a)
Take measures to ensure that no one is involuntarily placed in
psychiatric hospitals and neuropsychological institutions for non-medical reasons;
(b)
Release persons who have been forcibly placed in psychiatric hospitals
for non-medical reasons and take appropriate measures to remedy the situation;
(c)
Allow access to psychiatric hospitals and neuropsychological institutions
to monitors and monitoring mechanisms that are independent of the health
authorities and publish a brochure with its procedures and ensure its distribution to
patients and their families;
(d)
Ensure that patients have the right to be heard in person by the judge
ordering the hospitalization and that the court always seeks the opinion of a
psychiatrist who is not attached to the psychiatric institution admitting the patient;
(e)
Ensure that hospitalization for medical reasons is decided only upon
advice of independent psychiatric experts and that such decisions can be appealed.
Derogations from the absolute prohibition of torture
37.
While noting that the State party has adopted amendments to its national legislation
that define and specifically criminalize torture, the Committee remains concerned that
article 47 of the Constitution continues to stipulate that citizens’ rights may be suspended
during the imposition of a state of emergency or martial law, and does not clearly indicate
that the prohibition of torture is non-derogable. It is also concerned that the Constitution
does not clearly prohibit amnesties for torture and enforced disappearance (arts. 2 and 4).
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