CAT/C/CAN/CO/6
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
25 June 2012
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Forty-eighth session
7 May–1 June 2012
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under
article 19 of the Convention
Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture
Canada
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the sixth periodic report of Canada
(CAT/C/CAN/6) at its 1076th and 1079th meetings, held on 21 and 22 May 2012
(CAT/C/SR.1076 and 1079), and adopted the following concluding observations at its
1087th and 1088th meetings (CAT/C/SR.1087 and 1088).
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the submission of the sixth periodic report by the State
party, which broadly comply with the guidelines on the form and content of periodic
reports, but regrets that it was submitted three years late.
3.
The Committee welcomes the open dialogue with the interministerial delegation of
the State party and its efforts to provide comprehensive responses to issues raised by
Committee members during the dialogue. The Committee further commends the State party
for the detailed written replies to the list of issues, which was however submitted three
months late, just before the dialogue. Such delay prevented the Committee from conducting
a careful analysis of the information provided by the State party.
4.
The Committee is aware that the State party has a federal structure, but recalls that
Canada is a single State under international law and has the obligation to implement the
Convention in full at the domestic level.
B.
Positive aspects
5.
The Committee notes the ongoing efforts by the State party to reform its legislation,
policies and procedures in areas of relevance to the Convention, including:
(a)
The establishment of the Refugee Appeal Division within the independent
Immigration and Refugee Board by the 2011 Balanced Refugee Reform Act;
GE.12-43603