United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment CAT/C/BEL/CO/3 Distr.: General 3 January 2014 English Original: French Committee against Torture Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Belgium* 1. The Committee against Torture considered the third periodic report of Belgium (CAT/C/BEL/3) at its 1182nd and 1185th meetings (CAT/C/SR.1182 and 1185), held on 5 and 6 November 2013, and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1201st meeting (CAT/C/SR.1201), held on 18 November 2013. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the third periodic report of the State party, prepared in compliance with the new optional reporting procedure under which a list of issues is established by the Committee. 3. The Committee appreciates the quality of its dialogue with the State party’s highlevel delegation and of the responses provided orally to the questions and concerns raised during the consideration of the report. B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee takes note with satisfaction of the State party’s ratification of or accession to the following instruments since the consideration of its second periodic report: (a) The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, on 8 March 2013; (b) The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, on 2 June 2011; (c) The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, on 2 July 2009; (d) The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, on 27 April 2009. * Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-first session (28 October–22 November 2013). GE.14-40046 (E) 040214 050214 *1440046*

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