State party
Date on which the report was due
Sweden
Switzerland
Uganda
Uruguay
Austria
25 June 2004
25 June 2004
25 June 2004
25 June 2004
27 August 2004
Panama
Spain
Togo
Colombia
22 September 2004
19 November 2004
17 December 2004
6 January 2005
[25 June 2008]*
17.
At the request of the Committee, two members, Mr. Mariño and Mr. Rasmussen,
continued to maintain contacts with States parties whose initial reports were overdue by
five years or more, in order to encourage the submission of such reports.
18.
The Committee was not able to consider the initial report of Togo which was scheduled
for consideration during the thirty-fourth session due to the absence of a delegation from Togo.
The reasons given by the State party for this absence was attributed to the great difficulties
facing the country at the scheduled time, which did not allow the Government to appoint a
delegation and make available the resources for such a delegation to travel.
19.
Bearing in mind these circumstances and also the usefulness of considering the State
party reports, in particular the initial ones, in the presence of a delegation from the State party,
and in order to have a meaningful and constructive dialogue, the Committee decided to postpone
consideration of the initial report of Togo, and to take it up at its thirty-sixth session in
May 2006.
20.
On the other hand, the Committee expresses its deep concern with respect to the
information it has received and which highlight the extensive human rights violations as well as
the impunity of those accused of committing these.
21.
The Committee wishes to remind the State party of its obligation to respect the absolute
prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, to immediately
investigate any allegation of violation, to initiate proceedings against those presumed
responsible, to establish efficient mechanisms to provide reparations to the victims for the harm
suffered.
22.
The Committee expressed its hope that social peace will be fully re-established in Togo
and consolidation of the rule of law and full respect to fundamental rights.
10