CAT/C/FIN/CO/5-6
(c)
That the State party has continued to contribute regularly to the United
Nations Voluntary Fund for the Victims of torture since 1984.
C.
Principal subjects of concern and recommendations
Statute of limitations for the crime of torture
7.
The Committee is concerned that the Criminal Code contains a statute of limitations
for the crime of torture (art. 4).
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that acts of torture are not
subject to any statute of limitations.
T
Fundamental legal safeguards
8.
The Committee is concerned that fundamental legal safeguards were not always
ensured for persons deprived of their liberty– in particular for those having committed
“minor offences”, including juveniles – from the very outset of their detention, such as
meeting with a lawyer, preferably of their choice, notifying their next of kin even in case of
short stays in police custody and being examined by an independent doctor, preferably of
their own choice, within the detention premises (arts. 2 and 16).
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all persons deprived of
liberty are provided with fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of
detention, such as access to a lawyer, preferably of their choice, notifying their family
of their detention and being examined by an independent doctor, preferably of their
choice.
9.
The Committee is concerned that interrogations of persons who have been arrested
and detained and the investigations of persons before trial are not systematically subject to
audio- or video-recording (arts. 2 and 16).
The Committee recommends that the State party allocate the funds required to equip
places where persons are interrogated and where pretrial investigations occur, and in
particular police stations, with the necessary audio- and video-recording equipment.
Non-refoulement
10.
The Committee is concerned that available legal safeguards and the time frame
prescribed by law are not always guaranteed to all asylum-seekers (especially under the
accelerated asylum procedure) and aliens pending deportation; for example, the right to
lodge a judicial appeal with suspensive effect to the Helsinki Administrative Court and the
Supreme Administrative Court. The Committee has no information on whether deportation
operations are monitored by an independent body (art. 3).
The Committee recommends that the State party guarantee a suspensive in-country
right of appeal and respect for all safeguards and interim measures with regard to
asylum and deportation procedures pending the outcome of the appeals to the
Helsinki Administrative Court and the Supreme Administrative Court. The
Committee would like to request information on whether deportation operations are
monitored by an independent body.
Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and treatment
11.
The Committee is concerned that the provisions of the Mental Health Act governing
involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and treatment have not been amended. The
Committee is concerned further that an independent psychiatric opinion is not included as
3