CAT/C/BFA/CO/2 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Distr.: General 18 December 2019 English Original: French Committee against Torture Concluding observations on the second periodic report of Burkina Faso* 1. The Committee against Torture considered the second periodic report of Burkina Faso (CAT/C/BFA/2) at its 1788th and 1791st meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1788 and 1791) and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1810th meeting, held on 28 November 2019. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the second periodic report of the State party. The Committee also commends the State party for its replies to the list of issues (CAT/C/BFA/Q/2/Add.1), which were, however, submitted late. 3. The Committee appreciates the constructive dialogue held with the State party’s multidisciplinary delegation, which it thanks for the replies and additional information provided. B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee welcomes the ratification by the State party of nearly all United Nations human rights instruments and of most of their optional protocols. 5. The Committee welcomes the legislative, administrative and other measures taken by the State party to give effect to the Convention, including the adoption of: (a) Act No. 040-2019/AN of 29 May 2019 on the Code of Criminal Procedure; (b) Act No. 025-2018/AN of 31 May 2018 on the Criminal Code; (c) Abolition of the death penalty, by removing it from the arsenal of penalties under the 2018 Criminal Code; (d) Act No. 022-2014/AN of 27 May 2014 on the prevention and punishment of torture and related practices; (e) Act No. 001-2016/AN of 24 March 2016 on the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, and associating the national preventive mechanism for torture with the Commission; (f) Act No. 010-2017/AN of 10 April 2017 on the prison system in Burkina Faso; (g) Act No. 039-2017/AN of 27 June 2017 on the protection of human rights defenders in Burkina Faso; * Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-eighth session (11 November–6 December 2019). GE.19-21958 (E) 310120 030220 

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