CAT/C/PHL/CO/3
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
2 June 2016
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the third periodic report
of the Philippines*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the third periodic report of the
Philippines (CAT/C/PHL/3) at its 1408th and 1411th meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1408 and
1411), held on 27 and 28 April 2016, and adopted the present concluding observations at its
1426th meeting, held on 11 May 2016.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee appreciates the third periodic report submitted by the State party
under the simplified reporting procedure. The Committee welcomes the dialogue with the
State party’s delegation and the replies provided to the concerns raised by the Committee.
B.
Positive aspects
3.
The Committee welcomes the ratification of or accession to the following
international instruments by the State party:
(a)
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, on 17 April 2012;
(b)
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, on 30 August 2011;
(c)
The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, on
22 September 2011.
4.
The Committee also welcomes the State party’s initiatives to revise its legislation in
areas of relevance to the Convention, including:
(a)
The enactment of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9745), in
November 2009;
(b)
The amendment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic
Act No. 9208) by the adoption of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012
(Republic Act No. 10364), on 23 July 2012;
* Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-seventh session (18 April-13 May 2016).
GE.16-08815(E)