Convention Abbreviation: CAT
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE
19 OF THE CONVENTION
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee against Torture
Czech Republic
86. The Committee considered the initial report of the Czech Republic
(CAT/C/21/Add.2) at its 197th and 198th meetings, held on 11 November
1994 (see CAT/C/SR.197 and 198 and Add.2), and adopted the following
conclusions and recommendations.
A. Introduction
87. The Czech
Republic transmitted its report within five months of its due date,
which is quite timely. The Committee notes with satisfaction that
the Czech Republic has adopted most of the protections available under
the Convention and has developed its own institutions to give effect
to its obligations under the Convention.
88. The initial
report was not accompanied by the core document providing general
information on the State party, as requested in the Committee's guidelines,
but apart from this, it met all the reporting requirements of the
Convention.
B. Positive aspects
89. The Committee
is pleased to recognize that the Czech Republic has adopted a definition
of torture which is close to that in the Convention and has taken
the steps necessary to ensure that it is a crime in that country.
90. The Committee
also notes that in the Czech Republic all the necessary democratic
institutions and safeguards are in place to ensure the implementation
of the Convention.
91. The Committee
also takes note of the expeditious and effective way in which the
Czech authorities have dealt with allegations of abuse by police and
prison officers, have set up a system of compensation and rehabilitation
and take their educational responsibilities seriously.
92. The Czech
Republic is a good example of a democratic State that has taken its
commitments under the Convention seriously, and this is reflected
in its institutions and practices.
C. Subjects of concern
93. There
are no serious matters currently of concern to the Committee regarding
implementation by the Czech Republic of the Convention.
D. Conclusions and recommendations
94. Even
though the Czech Republic has not declared in favour of articles 21
and 22 and maintains its reservation on article 20 of the Convention,
the Czech delegation explained that this was due to the weight of
business in the legislative and executive fields and in no way reflects
a lack of political will to remedy the situation. The Committee is
confident that the Czech Republic will move to reform its situation
in this regard and looks forward to its second periodic report.
