CAT/C/JPN/CO/2
(b)
Revising the rule of solitary confinement for death row inmates;
(c)
Guaranteeing effective assistance by legal counsel for death row inmates
at all stages of the proceedings, and the strict confidentiality of all meetings with their
lawyers;
(d)
Making available the power of pardon, commutation and reprieve in
practice for death row inmates;
(e)
Introducing a mandatory system of review in capital cases, with
suspensive effect following a death penalty conviction in first instance;
(f)
Ensuring an independent review of all cases when there is credible
evidence that death row inmate is mentally ill. Furthermore, the State party should
ensure that a detainee with mental illness is not executed in accordance with article
479(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedures;
(g)
Providing data on death row inmates, disaggregated by sex, age,
ethnicity and offence;
(h)
Considering the possibility of abolishing the death penalty.
National human rights institution
16.
The Committee notes with concern that the State party has not yet established a
national human rights institution, in accordance with the principles relating to the status of
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) (art.
2).
Noting the commitment made by the State party in the context of the universal
periodic review (A/HRC/22/14/Add.1, paras.147.47 ff), the Committee urges the State
party to expedite the establishment of an independent national human rights
institution in conformity with the Paris Principles.
Training
17.
While taking note of various human rights training programmes initiated by the
State party, the Committee notes with concern that the State party does not provide training
on the Convention for all immigration officials and that the Manual on Effective
Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol) is not incorporated in the training programme.
The lack of information on the effectiveness and impact of those training programmes in
reducing the number of cases of torture, including gender-based violence and ill-treatment
is also a matter of concern (art. 11).
The State party should:
(a)
Further develop and strengthen training programmes to ensure that all
officials, in particular judges and law enforcement, prison and immigration officers,
are aware of the provisions of the Convention;
(b)
Provide training on the Istanbul Protocol for medical personnel and
other officials involved in the investigation and documentation of cases of torture, on a
regular basis;
(c)
Encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in
training of law enforcement officials;
(d)
Assess the effectiveness and impact of training programmes on the
prevention and absolute prohibition of torture, including gender-based violence, and
ill-treatment.
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