A/HRC/7/3/Add.7 page 7 Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the Human Rights Council, Manfred Nowak, undertook a visit to Indonesia from 10 to 23 November 2007, at the invitation of the Government. 2. The purpose of the visit was twofold: to assess the situation of torture and ill-treatment in the country, and to offer assistance to the Government in its efforts to improve the administration of justice, including the police and prison sectors. The invitation of the Government to the Special Rapporteur illustrates the willingness of Indonesia to open itself up to independent and objective scrutiny of its human rights situation. He notes that Indonesia has come a long way in overcoming the legacy of the Suharto era and that certain reforms have been implemented after the visit of a previous Special Rapporteur on torture to Indonesia in 1991 in terms of illegal detention and the handling of internal conflicts.1 He encourages the Government to implement the recommendations contained in this report with a view to further improving the situation regarding torture and ill-treatment. 3. The Special Rapporteur held meetings with the Speaker of Parliament, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Law and Human Rights and the Attorney-General. In addition, the Special Rapporteur met with the Director-General for Corrections and the Director-General for Human Rights; officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs and from the Social Affairs Ministry; and senior commanders from the Headquarters of the Armed Forces, and from the National Police. 4. Besides meeting with the Government, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In addition, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with the United Nations Country Team, the diplomatic community, and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur participated in a seminar on Indonesia’s anticipated accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), jointly organized by the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and ELSAM (Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy) in cooperation with the Government. 5. He visited prisons, police posts, military detention facilities and a social care centre in Jakarta, Central Java, Papua, Sulawesi and Bali2 (see also appendix). 1 See E/CN.4/1992/17/Add.1. 2 Jakarta: • • • • • Social Rehabilitation Centre Pasar Rebo Pondok Bambu pretrial detention facility for women and minors Cipinang Prison Polres Jakarta Metropolitan Timur Polres Jakarta South