CAT/C/MUS/CO/4 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Distr.: General 22 December 2017 Original: English Committee against Torture Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Mauritius* 1. The Committee against Torture considered the fourth periodic report of Mauritius (CAT/C/MUS/4) at its 1588th and 1591st meetings, held on 17 and 20 November 2017 (CAT/C/SR.1588 and 1591), and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1606th meeting, held on 30 November 2017. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the State party’s fourth periodic report prepared on the basis of a list of issues prior to reporting drawn up by the Committee (CAT/C/MUS/QPR/4). It expresses its appreciation to the State party for having accepted the simplified reporting procedure, as this improves the cooperation between the State party and the Committee and gives focus to the examination of the report as well as the dialogue with the delegation. 3. The Committee welcomes the dialogue held with the State party’s delegation, as well as the responses provided to the questions and concerns raised during the consideration of the report. It also thanks the State party for the additional statistical data supplied that are relevant to the monitoring of the implementation of the Convention at the national level. B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee welcomes the political commitment to legal, policy and institutional reforms laid out in the Government Programme 2015–2019 that will help improve compliance with the State party’s obligations under the Convention. 5. The Committee welcomes the State party’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in 2011. 6. The Committee welcomes the adoption of, among others, the following legislative measures by the State party in areas of relevance to the Convention: (a) The Independent Police Complaints Commission Act, in 2016, which establishes the independent commission replacing the Police Complaints Division of the National Human Rights Commission; (b) The Protection from Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act, in 2016, which, inter alia, broadens the definition of domestic violence; * Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-second session (6 November–6 December 2017). GE.17-23146(E) 

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