CAT/C/BGR/CO/6
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
15 December 2017
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of
Bulgaria*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the sixth periodic report of Bulgaria
(CAT/C/BGR/6) at its 1590th and 1593rd meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1590 and 1593), held
on 20 and 21 November 2017, and adopted the present concluding observations at its
1607th meeting, held on 30 November 2017.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the dialogue held with the State party’s delegation and the
oral replies and written information provided in response to the concerns raised by the
Committee.
B.
Positive aspects
3.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s accession to or ratification of the
following international instruments:
(a)
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on 22 March
(b)
The Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, on 22 March 2012;
(c)
The Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, on 22 March 2012.
2012;
4.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s initiatives to revise its legislation in
areas of relevance to the Convention, including the adoption of:
(a)
The amendments to articles 72–74, and the introduction of new article 74 (a)
in the Act on the Ministry of the Interior, citing, inter alia, the standard of “absolute
necessity” in the use of firearms, physical force or auxiliary devices by law enforcement
officials, on 1 July 2012;
(b)
The amendment to the Law on foreigners, prohibiting the detention of
unaccompanied children, in 2013;
(c)
The amendment of the Legal Assistance Act, improving access to justice by
socially disadvantaged groups and individuals and strengthening control over the provision
of legal aid by counsels, and the adoption of the national strategy on migration, asylum and
integration for the period 2015–2020;
(d)
The amendments to the Law on the execution of punishments and detention
on remand, in January 2017.
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-second session (6 November–6 December 2017).
GE.17-22583(E)