CAT/C/SYR/CO/1 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Distr.: General 25 May 2010 Original: English Committee against Torture Forty-fourth session 26 April – 14 May 2010 Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the convention Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture Syrian Arab Republic 1. The Committee against Torture considered the initial report of Syrian Arab Republic (CAT/C/SYR/1) at its 937th and 939th meetings (CAT/C/SR.937 and 939), held on 3 and 4 May 2010, and adopted, at its 951st meeting (CAT/C/SR.951), the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report of the Syrian Arab Republic, which, while generally following the Committee’s guidelines for reporting, lacks statistical and practical information on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and relevant domestic legislation. However, the Committee regrets that the report was submitted five years late, which prevented the Committee from conducting an analysis of the implementation of the Convention in the State party following its ratification in 2004. 3. The Committee notes with appreciation that a high-level delegation from the State party met with the Committee during its forty-fourth session, and also notes with appreciation the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue covering areas of mutual concern under the Convention. B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee welcomes the fact that the State party has ratified or acceded to the following international instruments: 1969; GE.10-42623 (a) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on 21 April 1969; (b) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on 21 April

Select target paragraph3