A/68/44
The State party should promptly adopt effective measures to ensure that, both by law
and in practice, all persons deprived of their liberty have the benefit of all
fundamental legal safeguards from the moment that they are taken into custody.
These safeguards include the right of every such person to be informed of the reasons
for his or her arrest and all charges brought against him or her, to have prompt
access to legal counsel and to meet with counsel in private, to be examined by a
physician of his or her choice, to notify a friend or family member, to be assisted by a
lawyer when being questioned by the police and, if necessary, by an interpreter, to be
provided with legal aid if needed, to be brought promptly before a judge and to have
the legality of his or her detention reviewed by a court. The State party should amend
its legislation in accordance with international standards in order to eliminate the
possibility that criminal investigation officers can issue an eight-day detention order.
Order from a superior
(11) The Committee is concerned by the fact that articles 49 and 49 bis of the Criminal
Code, which are viewed by the State party as fulfilling its obligation to ensure that an order
from a superior or a public authority cannot be invoked as a justification for an act of
torture, do not fulfil the obligation set forth in article 2, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The
Committee is equally concerned by the fact that articles 12 and 15 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure do not provide for sufficient mechanisms or procedures for protecting
subordinates from reprisals if they refuse to obey a superior who orders them to commit an
act of torture (art. 2).
The State party should guarantee, both by law and in practice, a subordinate’s right
to refuse to carry out an order from a superior that is in breach of the Convention. It
should also make certain that, in full conformity with article 2, paragraph 3, of the
Convention, the execution of such an order is not accepted as a justification for
torture. The State party should put mechanisms or procedures into place for
protecting a subordinate from reprisals if he or she refuses to carry out an order from
a superior that is in breach of the Convention.
National Human Rights Commission
(12) The Committee takes note of the fact that the State party has established the
National Human Rights Commission in accordance with Act No. 19/2005 of 3 January
2006 and Decree No. 303/PR/MCAEPRDH of 31 March 2008, which sets forth the
procedure to be used for designating the Commission’s members. The Committee is
concerned, however, by the fact that the Commission does not yet have offices. In addition,
the Commission does not have sufficient financial and human resources, lacks safeguards
that would ensure its members’ independence and is not accredited with the International
Coordination Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of
Human Rights (art. 2).
The State party should, as a matter of urgency, take steps to ensure that the National
Human Rights Commission is functioning as it should, to guarantee its independence,
and to provide it with the financial and human resources that it needs to discharge its
mandate in full compliance with the Principles relating to the status of national
institutions (Paris Principles, General Assembly resolution 48/134). The State party
should also apply to the International Coordination Committee of National
Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights for accreditation of
the National Human Rights Commission.
National mechanism for the prevention of torture
(13) The Committee regrets that the State party has not established a national preventive
mechanism since its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
GE.13-46043
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