CAT/OP/12 United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Distr.: General 18 June 2021 Original: English Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Follow-up advice of the Subcommittee to States parties and national preventive mechanisms relating to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic* I. Introduction 1. After issuing advice on places of quarantine in March 2020,1 the Subcommittee issued advice in April 2020 to States parties and national preventive mechanisms relating to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.2 The Subcommittee then asked States parties and national preventive mechanisms to provide information on the measures taken to implement its recommendations. 2. The present advice was prepared on the basis of the information received, which the Subcommittee has decided to make public without referring to any specific State party or national preventive mechanism. The present advice complements the previous advice issued by the Subcommittee, and it is to serve as an instrument to evaluate both the measures implemented and the impact of those measures on persons deprived of liberty. It will also reinforce the universality of the measures taken to prevent torture and ill-treatment worldwide and to minimize the negative impact of the pandemic in places of deprivation of liberty. 3. The measures taken by some States parties in 2020 and summarized below demonstrate the capacity of adaptation of certain penal justice systems, including by reducing the population of places of deprivation of liberty, raising awareness about the pandemic, paying greater attention to hygiene, intensifying care for persons with health risks and introducing new means of communication with the outside world. 4. In the present advice, the Subcommittee expresses its concerns with regard to certain measures taken by States parties and the lack of political will to implement its recommendations. It also expresses its concerns regarding the means provided to national preventive mechanisms to continue monitoring places of deprivation of liberty during the pandemic. 5. In addition, the Subcommittee makes recommendations with regard to the new challenges, such as the administration of vaccination programmes and the consolidation of positive measures related to COVID-19. 6. The Subcommittee acknowledges that national preventive mechanisms in many States parties have clearly demonstrated their capacity of action during the pandemic, be it in the scrutiny of emergency legislation, in the monitoring of the adequate implementation of * Adopted intersessionally by the Subcommittee on 31 May 2021, pursuant to article 11 (b) of the 1 2 Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. CAT/OP/9. CAT/OP/10. GE.21-08240(E)

Select target paragraph3