The State party should ensure that female and male prisoners are held in separate facilities and, in
particular, that juvenile prisoners are held separately from adults. It should also ensure that the prison
wardens involved in dealing with female and juvenile prisoners are trained to deal with the necessary
sensitivity and characteristics required.
(8)
The Committee is concerned about some reported cases of inappropriate handling of incidents by law
enforcement officers and border guards, in particular at detention centres, airports and in conjunction with
manifestations and demonstrations (arts. 2 and 7).
Regardless of the frequency and gravity of such incidents, the State party should ensure that all
allegations are investigated. The State party should provide further detailed information on
investigations and the results in its next periodic report.
Solitary confinement
(9)
The Committee is concerned about the reported cases of frequent and excessive use of solitary confinement
for persons in custody (art. 11).
The State party should investigate promptly the issue of excessive use of solitary confinement and
adopt effective measures to prevent such practice.
Non-refoulement and asylum-seeking
(10) The Committee welcomes the information provided during the dialogue on the State party report with regard
to cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The Committee is however concerned that
only two asylum applications have been approved in the past 20 years, and that the State party is reluctant to issue
residence permits, even on humanitarian grounds (art. 3).
The State party should ensure through legal and administrative procedures, including review by an
independent judicial body concerning rejections, that due consideration is given to each individual case
before a final decision is reached and that a constant review of the situations in the countries
individuals may be returned or expelled to is carried out.
The State party should also include in its next report more detailed information on how national
security considerations can affect the protection of non-refoulement, in accordance with article 3 of the
Convention.
(11) While noting the information provided in relation to investigations in the framework of the Council of
Europe and alleged rendition flights in Europe, the Committee remains concerned about the reported rendition
flights through Iceland and the inadequate response to the allegations by the authorities (arts. 3 and 4).
The State party should provide further information in its next periodic report on measures taken to
investigate allegations of rendition flights on Icelandic territory or in its airspace, including outcomes
of such measures or investigations.
Education and information
(12) The Committee notes that basic police training and training of prison warders include elements of human
rights and the international obligations of Iceland. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the new Coast Guard Act
No. 52/2006 states that coast guards should comply with the Police Act and the Criminal Procedure Code. The
Committee is, however, concerned that, in some instances, at police stations and airports, police officers and border
guards have not handled all incidents with the respect due to the human rights of the individual (art. 10).
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