CAT/C/AFG/CO/2
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
12 June 2017
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the second periodic report of
Afghanistan*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the second periodic report of
Afghanistan (CAT/C/AFG/2) at its 1515th and 1518th meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1515 and
1518), held on 25 and 26 April 2017, and adopted the present concluding observations at its
1535th and 1537th meetings, held on 9 and 10 May 2017.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the submission of the second periodic report of
Afghanistan and the information contained therein. It regrets, however, that the report was
submitted more than 20 years late, which prevented the Committee from conducting a
periodic analysis of the implementation of the Convention by the State party following its
ratification in 1987.
3.
The Committee appreciates having had the opportunity to engage in a constructive
dialogue with the delegation of the State party and the responses provided to the questions
and concerns raised during the consideration of the report.
B.
Positive aspects
4.
The Committee welcomes the ratification of or accession to the following
international instruments by the State party:
(a)
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
involvement of children in armed conflict, in 2003;
(b)
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, in 2003;
(c)
The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol, in 2005;
(d)
The United Nations Convention against Corruption, in 2008.
5.
The Committee also welcomes the State party’s initiatives to revise its legislation in
areas of relevance to the Convention against Torture, including:
(a)
torture;
The adoption in January 2004 of the new Constitution, which prohibits
(b)
The adoption in 2005 of the Law on Prisons and Detention Centres;
(c)
The adoption in 2005 of the Juvenile Code;
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixtieth session (18 April-12 May 2017).
GE.17-09562(E)