Committee against Torture considers report of Mozambique -- DisplayNews

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Committee against Torture      

29 October 2013

The Committee against Torture this afternoon concluded its consideration of the initial report of Mozambique on how that country is implementing the provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Presenting the report, Maria Benvinda Levi, Minister of Justice of Mozambique, said that Mozambique achieved independence 37 years ago, but for almost half of that period, the country had been ravaged by civil war, after which the country had been working hard to re-establish civil order, following the peace agreement in 1992.  Mozambique had carried out a number of concrete actions in the area of human rights, such as the creation of the office of an ombudsman and the national Human Rights Commission, whereas the adoption of the national Human Rights Plan was expected soon.  The detention management system had been overhauled and new facilities had been constructed, with the view of improving the overall conditions of the penitentiaries.  The Family Code was currently being revised in order to prevent domestic violence and provide more support to the victims. 
Committee Members expressed satisfaction to be given a chance to review the initial report of Mozambique, which was 13 years late, and engage the delegation in an interactive dialogue.  Experts asked questions about the definition of torture in Mozambique’s legislation, pre-trial detention, overcrowding and conditions of prisons, inter-prisoner violence, treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, rules of extradition, domestic violence, sexual abuse and harassment of boys and girls, corporal punishment, the existence of vigilante justice, and the independence of the judiciary and the magistrates.  Experts were particularly interested in training programmes for law enforcement officials in the area of human rights, abuse of force by the police and fighting impunity.
In concluding remarks, Claudio Grossman, Chairperson of the Committee and Co-Rapporteur for the report of Mozambique, expressed his thanks to the delegation for its presentation and the transparency of its responses.  The purpose of the dialogue was to assist the State party in fulfilling its obligations.  The Committee would adopt its recommendations and send them to the delegation in due course.
The delegation of Mozambique included the Minister of Justice, National Director for Human Rights and Citizenship at the Ministry of Justice, Director for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, Deputy National Director for Social Affairs at the Ministry for Women and Social Affairs, Head of Department of Research, Information and Planning at the Ministry of Interior, Advisor of Minister of Health, Advisor of Minister of Education, Legal Advisor of Minister for Women and Social Affairs, Head of Department for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Education, and representatives of the Permanent Mission of Mozambique to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
When the Committee next meets in public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 October, it will take up the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Poland (CAT/C/POL/5-6).  At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the Committee will conclude its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Uzbekistan.