United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
CAT/C/USA/CO/3-5
Distr.: General
19 December 2014
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the combined third to fifth
periodic reports of the United States of America*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the combined third to fifth periodic
reports of the United States of America (CAT/C/USA/3-5) at its 1264th and 1267th
meetings (CAT/C/SR.1264 and 1267), held on 12 and 13 November 2014, and adopted at
its 1276th and 1277th meetings (CAT/C/SR.1276 and 1277), held on 20 November 2014,
the following concluding observations.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the
optional reporting procedure, as it helps the State party to prepare a more focused report
and improves the dialogue between the State party and the Committee. It notes, however,
that the report was submitted with a two-year delay.
3.
The Committee appreciates the dialogue with the State party’s high-level delegation
and the responses provided orally to the questions and concerns raised during the
consideration of the report.
B.
Positive aspects
4.
The Committee welcomes the changes in the State party’s legislation and
jurisprudence in areas of relevance to the Convention, including:
(a)
Recognition by the Supreme Court in Boumediene v. Bush, 553 U.S. 723
(2008), of the extraterritorial application of constitutional habeas corpus rights to aliens
detained by the military as enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay;
(b)
Presidential Executive Orders 13491 – Ensuring Lawful Interrogations,
13492 – Review and Disposition of Individuals Detained at the Guantanamo Bay Naval
Base and Closure of Detention Facilities, and 13493 – Review of Detention Policy Options,
issued on 22 January 2009;
* Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-third session (3–28 November 2014).
GE.14-24723 (E)