extradition; ensure that the Convention can be invoked as a legal basis for extradition
with regard to crimes enumerated in article 4 when receiving requests for extradition
from States with which it does not have an extradition treaty; and provide the
Committee with information on instances in which the Convention has been invoked in
judicial decisions regarding extradition and universal jurisdiction.
Corporal punishment of children
34.
The Committee is concerned that corporal punishment of children is not explicitly and
unequivocally prohibited in alternative care, in all day care settings, and in penal institutions
and in the home, since the Children Act 1982 allows for “reasonable chastisement” (arts. 2
and 16).
35.
The Committee recommends that the State party amend its legislation to
expressly prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings, in particular in public
institutions, through acts or omissions by State agents and others who engage the State’s
responsibility under the Convention, and explicitly repeal the right to inflict
“reasonable chastisement” under the Children Act 1982.
Training
36.
The Committee is concerned that specific training on the provisions of the
Convention, and in particular the absolute prohibition of torture, is not part of the training of
public officials such as police and law-enforcement officers, military officers, prison staff
and judicial personnel. It is also concerned that the Manual on Effective Investigation and
Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(the Istanbul Protocol) is not part of the mandatory training provided to medical personnel
and other persons engaged in the custody, interrogation or treatment of persons subjected to
any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment (art. 10).
37.
The State party should:
(a)
Ensure that police and law-enforcement officers, military officers, prison
staff and judicial personnel receive training on the provisions of the Convention, and in
particular on the absolute prohibition of torture; as well as on how to deal with threats
posed by terrorism and piracy and on the protection of the rights of persons suspected
of terrorism and piracy;
(b)
Indicate that breaches of the Convention will not be tolerated and that
they will be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted;
(c)
Ensure that medical personnel and other persons engaged in the custody,
interrogation or treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or
imprisonment receive mandatory training on the Manual on Effective Investigation and
Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (the Istanbul Protocol);
(d)
Develop and implement a methodology to assess the effectiveness and
impact of any such training;
(e)
Provide training to relevant public officials on non-coercive methods of
investigation that preclude the use of torture.
Trafficking in human beings
38.
Noting that the State party is in the midst of prosecuting its first case of trafficking in
human beings (for purposes of labour exploitation), the Committee is nevertheless concerned
at reports of transport of young women into the State party on private airplanes who may be
victims of trafficking amounting to inhuman treatment, and at the reported absence of action
by immigration officers with regard to their entry into the country. The Committee also
regrets the lack of response by the State party as to whether allegations of possible corruption
among officials regarding such alleged incidents have been investigated as well as at reports
that no victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation have been identified as such in the State
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