The United Nations Committee Against Torture is set to review the government of Pakistan on April 18 and 19 on its compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment during its 60th session.
This is the first time the Committee – comprising 10 independent experts — is reviewing Pakistan since the country signed on the UN CAT in 2008 and ratified it in 2010. The ratifying states are under an obligation to implement the Convention’s provisions. In its Initial State Report, submitted five years late, to the Committee, Pakistan argued that its legal framework was already in line with the provisions of the Convention. The review, where the Committee will examine the report and engage in a public dialogue with the state delegation, will be followed by two other UN treaty body reviews and the Universal Periodic Review in 2017. After the review, the Committee will issue its findings, known as Concluding Observations, outlining progress and areas of concern, and making concrete recommendations for reform. State parties have an obligation to implement the Concluding Observations.
The meeting between the government representatives and the Committee is public and webcasted. It can be watched live at http://webtv.un.org/ and followed on twitter #UNCAT60. The review starts on April 18 (6:00 pm Pakistan time onward) and will continue on Wednesday (6:00 pm onward)
Source: HRCP
