UNITED NATIONS CAT Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Distr. GENERAL CAT/C/UZB/CO/3 26 February 2008 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE Thirty-ninth session Geneva, 5 - 23 November 2007 CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee against Torture UZBEKISTAN 1. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Uzbekistan (CAT/C/UZB/3) at its 789th and 792nd meetings (CAT/C/SR.789 and CAT/C/SR.792), held on 9 and 12 October 2007, and adopted, at its 807th and 808th meetings, held on 22 November 2007 (CAT/C/SR.807 and CAT/C/SR.808), the following conclusions and recommendations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the third periodic report of Uzbekistan and the extensive responses to the list of issues (CAT/C/UZB/Q/3/Add.1) by the State party and the representatives who participated in the oral review. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee welcomes the following developments, including the following administrative, legislative and other measures taken: (a) Scheduled introduction of habeas corpus provisions beginning 1 January 2008; (b) Adoption of the law to abolish the death penalty beginning 1 January 2008; (c) Amendment to article 235 of the Criminal Code, addressing some of the elements in the definition of torture; (d) Transfer of the authority to issue arrests warrants from the prosecutor’s office to the courts (8 August 2005); (e) Order No. 40, which instructs prosecutors to apply the provisions under the Convention and applicable national laws directly; (f) The Supreme Court’s directives to prohibit the introduction of evidence, including testimonies, obtained under torture, resulting in courts referring “numerous criminal cases back for further investigation after evidence had been found inadmissible.” GE.08-40689

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