United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment CAT/C/MEX/CO/7 Distr.: General 24 July 2019 English Original: Spanish Committee against Torture Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Mexico A. Introduction 1. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for agreeing to follow the optional reporting procedure, as this allows for a more focused dialogue between the State party and the Committee. It nevertheless regrets that the periodic report (CAT/C/MEX/7) was submitted almost one year late. 2. The Committee appreciates the constructive dialogue held with the State party’s delegation and the additional information provided during the consideration of the report (see CAT/C/SR.1724 and SR.1727). B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee welcomes the following legislative measures taken by the State party in areas related to the Convention: (a) The publication, on 26 June 2017, of the General Act on the Prevention, Investigation and Punishment of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which, among other things, establishes the absolute prohibition of torture, sets forth a harmonized national definition of the offences of torture and illtreatment, stipulates that torture is not subject to the statute of limitations, reaffirms the inadmissibility and nullity of evidence obtained through torture, and prohibits the granting of pardon, amnesty or immunity to persons prosecuted or convicted for acts of torture; (b) The publication, on 17 November 2017, of the General Act on Enforced Disappearance of Persons, Disappearance Perpetrated by Individuals and the National Missing Persons System; (c) The publication, on 16 June 2016, of the Federal Act on the Enforcement of Criminal Penalties, which establishes a complaints mechanism for persons deprived of their liberty, and judicial oversight of conditions of detention; (d) The publication, on 9 January 2013, of the General Victims Act, as amended on 3 January 2017, and the publication, on 28 November 2014, of the regulations to the Victims Act. (e) The publication, on 15 August 2016, of the Decree amending article 11 (2) of the Constitution, which establishes the right to seek and be granted asylum (“refugio”);  Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-sixth session (23 April–17 May 2019). GE.19-12617 (E) 011119 041119 

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