Poland: penal procedure code protects against refoulement in the extradition context
The Code of Penal Procedure 1997 bars extradition when there is a reasonable suspicion that the State seeking
extradition could subject the person to be surrendered to torture.
Tunisia: anti-terrorism law provides refoulement
protection in the extradition context
This tool is to be read in
conjunction with CTI’s
UNCAT Implementation
Tool on Non-Refoulement
Procedures and
Safeguards
T O O L
UNCAT Implementation Tool 4/2018
NON‑REFOULEMENT PROCEDURES
AND SAFEGUARDS
Article 88 of the Law No. 26 of 2015 provides, “extradition shall not
be granted if there are real grounds to believe that the person who
is the subject of the extradition request risks being tortured or that
the extradition request is intended to prosecute or punish a person
because of the person’s race, colour, origin, religion, sex, nationality
or political ideas.”
The absolute prohibition against refoulement set out
in Article 3(1) of the UN Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (Convention, or UNCAT) – namely the
prohibition against the transfer of any person to a place
where they would face a real risk of torture or other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
(hereafter “torture or other ill-treatment”) – is a
fundamental feature of the global torture prevention
architecture. This tool includes some examples of the
range of legal and practical procedures and safeguards
that States have developed to give it effect.
CONSTITUTIONAL
PROVISIONS
The prohibition against refoulement is widely recognised
in constitutional texts and/or legislation. Some States’
constitutions enshrine the prohibition against refoulement
explicitly; in others, constitutional provisions, stipulating
that binding international treaties (e.g., UNCAT) prevail
over contrary domestic law, have given effect to the
prohibition against refoulement. The courts of some States
have also confirmed the latter.
Article 3, UNCAT
1. No State Party shall expel, return
(“refouler”) or extradite a person to another
State where there are substantial grounds
for believing that he [or she] would be in
danger of being subjected to torture.
2. For the purpose of determining whether
there are such grounds, the competent
authorities shall take into account all
relevant considerations including, where
applicable, the existence in the State
concerned of a consistent pattern of gross,
flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
“
It is insufficient merely to intervene
after the infliction of torture, when
the physical or moral integrity of
human beings has already been
irremediably harmed. States are
bound to put in place all those
measures that may pre‑empt the
perpetration of torture.”
Prosecutor v. Anto Furundzija,
No. IT-95-17/1-T, Judgment of the
International Criminal Tribunal for
former Yugoslavia, 10 December 1998,
para. 148
The CTI ‘UNCAT Implementation Tools’ are a series of practical tools designed to share good practices among States on the
implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT).
They offer thematic guidance and ideas for State practitioners and policymakers as they develop or revise context-specific strategies,
mechanisms and procedures to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment or punishment, and provide remedies for victims.
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Judicial review
Many countries include robust judicial checks on extradition requests, with the courts determining whether an
extradition request can proceed. The courts are also involved in determining whether the requested individual will
be provisionally arrested or detained.
Georgia: Constitution provides a right to appeal extradition decisions before the Courts
Article 13(4) of the Constitution of Georgia of 1995 provides that, “A decision on extradition may be appealed in
court.” Upon receiving a request for extradition fulfilling all legal requirements, the Office of the Chief Prosecutor
within the Ministry of Justice files a motion for extradition before a first instance court. The first instance court’s
decision may be appealed before the Supreme Court of Georgia, whose decision, in turn, is final. If the extradition
is found inadmissible by the courts, the Minister of Justice issues an order and denies the extradition.
Japan: Tokyo High Court to decide on extradition of detained persons
In Japan, under the Act of Extradition (Law No. 68 of 1953), bar certain circumstances, the Minister of Justice
forwards the extradition request to the Superintendent Prosecutor of Tokyo High Prosecutors Office where
a prosecutor applies to the Tokyo High Court for an examination of whether the case is extraditable. When
necessary, prior to the application, the prosecutor may detain the individual concerned by obtaining a detention
permit from a judge of the Tokyo High Court. The Tokyo High Court promptly starts the examination and makes
a decision on whether the case is extraditable. If the person is in custody, the High Court makes a decision within
two months since the start of detention.
Madagascar: judicial review of extradition decisions
Article 19 of the National Law against Torture (Loi N°2008-008 du 25 juin 2008 contre la torture et autres peines
ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants) stipulates that no person shall be extradited by the Malagasy
authorities to a State where he or she is at risk of being subjected to torture. Any extradition decision taken
by the Minister of Justice is preceded by a judicial review conducted by the Court of Appeal, which includes
consideration of the compliance of any prospective extradition with Madagascar’s obligations under international
instruments.
Malta: Constitution provides that extradition must be ordered by the judiciary
The Constitution of Malta of 1964 provides that extradition shall be ordered by a judicial authority.
TOOL: Cooperation on extradition
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