CAT/C/TUR/CO/4 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 fourth periodic reports of Turkey* 1. The Committee against Torture considered the fourth periodic report of Turkey (CAT/C/TUR/4) at its 1406th and 1409th meetings, held on 26 and 27 April 2016 (CAT/C/SR.1406 and 1409), and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1424th and 1426th meetings, held on 10 and 11 May 2016. A. Introduction 2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the optional reporting procedure, as this allows for a more focused dialogue between the State party and the Committee. 3. The Committee welcomes the dialogue held with the State party’s delegation during the consideration of the report. B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee welcomes the State party’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 27 September 2011. 5. The Committee also welcomes the following legislative measures taken by the State party in areas related to the Convention: (a) The amendment in April 2013 of article 94 of the Criminal Code, which now specifies that criminal liability for acts of torture is no longer subject to a statute of limitations, as recommended by the Committee in its previous concluding observations (see CAT/C/TUR/CO/3, para. 24); (b) The promulgation, on 11 April 2012, of Law No. 6291 on “Amending the Law on the Execution of Punishments and Security Measures and the Law on Probation, Help Centres and Protection Board”, which promotes the use and application of alterative measures to deprivation of liberty; * Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-seventh session (18 April-13 May 2016). GE.16-08818(E) 

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