CAT/C/CAN/CO/7
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
21 December 2018
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of
Canada*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the seventh periodic report of Canada
(CAT/C/CAN/7) at its 1695th and 1698th meetings, held on 21 and 22 November 2018 (see
CAT/C/SR.1695 and 1698), and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1715th
and 1716th meetings, held on 5 December 2018.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the
simplified reporting procedure, which allows for a more focused dialogue between the State
party and the Committee.
3.
The Committee appreciates having had the opportunity to engage in a constructive
dialogue with the State party’s delegation, and the responses provided to the questions and
concerns raised during the consideration of the report.
B.
Positive aspects
4.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s accession to the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on 3 December 2018.
5.
The Committee commends the State party’s initiatives to amend its policies and
procedures in order to afford greater protection of human rights and to apply the
Convention, in particular the following:
(a)
The launch of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (as a successor to the Public Complaints Commission) and
the establishment of the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team in 2015 and 2012
respectively, as well as the start of operations of the Independent Investigations Office in
British Columbia and the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (the independent
investigations bureau in Quebec) in 2012 and 2016 respectively;
(b)
The launch, on December 2012, of the Refugee Appeal Division, which
considers appeals against decisions of the Refugee Protection Division to allow or reject
claims for refugee protection;
(c)
The adoption of the Mental Health Action Plan for Federal Offenders, in May
2014;
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-fifth session (12 November–7 December 2018).
GE.18-22488(E)