CAT/C/SLE/CO/1 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Distr.: General 20 June 2014 Original: English Committee against Torture Concluding observations on the initial report of Sierra Leone* 1. The Committee against Torture considered the initial report of Sierra Leone (CAT/C/SLE/1) at its 1219th and 1221th meetings, held on 2 and 5 May 2014 (see CAT/C/SR.1219 and 1221), and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1237th meeting, held on 15 May 2014 (see CAT/C/SR.1237), and its 1238th meeting, held on 16 May 2014 (CAT/C/SR.1238). A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the initial report of Sierra Leone (CAT/C/SLE/1). However, the Committee regrets that the report does not fully conform to the Committee’s guidelines on the form and content of initial reports (CAT/C/4/Rev.3), and that it was submitted with an 11-year delay, which prevented the Committee from conducting an analysis of the implementation of the Convention in the State party following its accession in 2001. 3. The Committee is grateful to the State party for the constructive and frank dialogue held with its high-level delegation and the additional information that was provided during the consideration of the report. B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee welcomes the State party’s ratification of the following international instruments: (a) The Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and on the involvement of children in armed conflict, on 17 September 2001 and 15 May 2002 respectively; (b) The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on 4 October 2010. * Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-second session (28 April–23 May 2014). GE.14-05801 (E) *1405801*

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