CAT/OP/GAB/1 I. Introduction 1. The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment undertook its first regular visit to Gabon between 3 and 12 December 2013, in accordance with the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 1 2. The delegation consisted of the following Subcommittee members: Mr. Emilio Gines (head of delegation), Mr. Hans-Jörg Viktor Bannwart, Ms. Suzanne Jabbour and Mr. Fortuné Gaetan Zongo. 3. The Subcommittee members were assisted by five members of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including one security officer. 4. The Subcommittee visited 27 places of deprivation of liberty, including police stations, gendarmeries, prisons, a psychiatric institution and detention centres 2 in the towns of Libreville (Estuaire province), Port-Gentil (Ogooué-Maritime province) and Lambaréné (Moyen-Ogooué province). It also held meetings with the competent authorities in Gabon, the National Human Rights Commission, members of civil society and representatives of United Nations agencies. 3 The Subcommittee wishes to thank them for the valuable information provided. 5. During the visit, which was limited in scope and duration, it was not possible to cover all places of deprivation of liberty in Gabon. Nevertheless, the Subcommittee was able to obtain an overall picture of conditio ns in the country, leading it to conclude that the situation of persons deprived of their liberty is of grave concern. 6. At the conclusion of the visit, on 12 December, the Subcommittee presented its confidential preliminary observations orally to the Gabonese authorities. In the present report, the Subcommittee presents its findings and recommendations concerning the prevention of torture and ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the State party. The generic term “ill-treatment” is used to refer to any form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 4 7. The Subcommittee requests the Gabonese authorities to reply to this report within six months of the date of its transmission, giving a full account of the actions they have taken to implement the recommendations. 8. This report will remain confidential until such time as the Gabonese authorities decide to make it public, as established in article 16, paragraph 2, of the Optional Protocol. The Subcommittee wishes to draw the State party’s attention to the possibility of applying for funding from the Special Fund established in accordance with article 26 of the Optional Protocol, for specific projects to implement the recommendations contained in the present report, on condition tha t the report has been made public. 9. The Subcommittee recommends that Gabon consider publishing this report in accordance with article 16, paragraph 2, of the Optional Protocol. __________________ 1 2 3 4 GE. 15-10283 For more information about the Subcommittee’s mandate, please see: http://www2.ohchr.org/ english/bodies/cat/opcat/index.htm. For the complete list, see annex I. For the complete list, see annex II. See article 16 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 3/24