CAT/C/ARM/CO/4
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
26 January 2017
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of
Armenia*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the fourth periodic report of Armenia
(CAT/C/ARM/4) at its 1484th and 1487th meetings, held on 23 and 24 November 2016
(CAT/C/SR.1484 and 1487), and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1500th
meeting, held on 5 December 2016.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for having accepted the
simplified reporting procedure and for having submitted its fourth periodic report to the
Committee in advance of the due date. It welcomes the dialogue with the delegation of the
State party and the responses provided orally and in writing to the questions and concerns
raised during the consideration of the report.
B.
Positive aspects
3.
The Committee welcomes the legislative measures taken by the State party in areas
of relevance to the Convention, including:
(a)
The adoption of amendments to the Criminal Code (art. 309.1), providing for
a definition and criminalization of torture, in accordance with article 1 of the Convention,
on 8 June 2015;
(b)
The strengthening of the protection against refoulement, through the
incorporation into the text of the amended Constitution (art. 55 (1)) of an explicit
prohibition of the deportation or extradition of a person to a country where there is a real
risk of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
(c)
The adoption of amendments to the 2008 Law on Refugees and Asylum that
introduce a definition of asylum seekers and refugees with specific needs, including victims
of trafficking, torture, rape or other forms of violence, on 16 December 2015;
* Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-ninth session (7 November-7 December 2016).
GE.17-01141(E)