Alternative Report Denmark
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ALTERNATIVE REPORT to the list of issues (CAT/C/DNK/Q/6-7) dated 19 January 2010 to be considered by the UN Committee against Torture during the examination of the 6th and 7th periodic report of DENMARK 54th Session, November 2015 ANTI TORTURE SUPPORT FOUNDATION R E T S P O L I T I S K F O R E N I N G Danish Law Association 1 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 PART A. SUGGESTED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LIST OF ISSUES ............................................................................ 7 I. SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLES 1 TO 16 .............................................................. 7 ARTICLES 1 AND 4 ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 LOI PARA 1- INCORPORATION OF THE CONVENTION ................................................................................................................... 7 LOI PARA 2- CRIMINALISATION OF TORTURE AND STATUTE OF LIMITATION ..................................................................................... 8 ARTICLE 2...................................................................................................................................................................11 LOI PARA 3- ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION OF FOREIGNERS ........................................................................................................ 11 LOI PARA 4 – POLICE-IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON REMAND PRISONERS’ CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD ..................................... 16 ARTICLE 3...................................................................................................................................................................19 LOI PARA 5 – TRANSFER OF DETAINEES ................................................................................................................................. 19 LOI PARA 6 – DIPLOMATIC ASSURANCES ................................................................................................................................ 22 LOI PARA 7 – CIA RENDITION FLIGHTS AND INSPECTION SYSTEM................................................................................................. 24 ARTICLE 10 .................................................................................................................................................................26 LOI PARA 9(B) – TRAINING ON HOW TO IDENTIFY SIGNS OF TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT .............................................................. 26 ARTICLE 11 .................................................................................................................................................................30 LOI PARA 10 – NEW INTERROGATION RULES AND PRACTICES, AND CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS.......................................................... 30 LOI PARA 11 (A) – EFFORTS MADE TO LIMIT THE USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT .......................................................................... 32 LOI PARA 11 (B) – THE USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT ........................................................................................................... 33 LOI PARA 11 (C) – SOLITARY CONFINEMENT OF MINORS ........................................................................................................... 38 LOI PARA 12 – INDEFINITE SOLITARY CONFINEMENT ................................................................................................................ 40 LOI PARA 15 – NON-SEPARATION OF MEN AND WOMEN IN PRISONS ........................................................................................... 42 LOI PARA 16 – CONDITIONS IN ASYLUM CENTRES .................................................................................................................... 43 ARTICLES 12, 13 AND 14 ............................................................................................................................................46 LOI PARA 17 – STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT ....................................................... 46 LOI PARA 18 – EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPLAINT SYSTEM REGARDING VIOLATIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ........... 48 LOI PARA 19 – REDRESS AND REPARATION FOR VICTIMS ........................................................................................................... 50 ARTICLE 16 .................................................................................................................................................................54 LOI PARA 20(A) – (C): EFFORTS TAKEN TO PREVENT AND COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN; IMPACT OF MEASURES OF INVESTIGATION AND VICTIM SUPPORT; AND NATURE AND SCOPE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ............................................................................ 54 LOI PARA 22 AND LOI PARA 23 – DATA ON TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND EFFORTS TO ADDRESS TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN ..................... 57 II. OTHER ISSUES ........................................................................................................................................................59 LOI PARA 25- ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES ............................................................................................................................ 59 2 III. GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, INCLUDING NEW MEASURE AND DEVELOPMENTS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ..........................................................61 LOI PARA 26- DEVELOPMENTS OF THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................ 61 PART B: OTHER SUGGESTED RECOMMENDTATIONS ..................................................................................................64 ARTICLE 2...................................................................................................................................................................64 ISSUE 1 – USE OF PRE-TRIAL DETENTION ................................................................................................................................ 64 ARTICLE 3...................................................................................................................................................................66 ISSUE 2 – PRINCIPLE OF NON-REFOULEMENT AND MEDICAL ‘TORTURE’ EXAMINATIONS ................................................................... 66 ISSUE 3 – PERSONS ON TOLERATED STAY WHO CANNOT BE DEPORTED ......................................................................................... 68 ARTICLE 16 .................................................................................................................................................................70 ISSUE 4 – INTER-PRISONER VIOLENCE .................................................................................................................................... 70 ISSUE 5 - USE OF COERCION IN THE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTIONS ................................................................................................... 72 ISSUE 6 – NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG PRISONERS AND DETAINEES ......................................................................... 75 ISSUE 7 – LGBTI PERSONS’ ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ................................................................................................................ 76 Annex A: Decision by the Supreme Court of Denmark 17 September 2013 (case 135/2013) Annex B: Decision by the Supreme Court of Denmark 9 August 2013 (case 135/2013) 3 Introduction Since Denmark’s ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) in 1987, the UN Committee against Torture has undertaken five examinations of Denmark. In relation to the upcoming review of Denmark on 16-17 November 2015, this report is submitted to the Committee against Torture as an alternative report to Denmark’s report of 6 January 2015 that replies to the questions in the list of issues prior to reporting dated 19 January 2010 regarding progress made with respect to treaty implementation and compliance. This report is written by a Coalition of NGOs in Denmark composed of the following organisations: Anti-Torture Support Foundation Association of Aliens Law Lawyers Better Psychiatry – National Association of Relatives (Part B, issue 5-6) Danish Association of Legal Affairs Danish Refugee Council DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Joint Council for Child Issues KRIM – National Association LGBT Denmark OASIS – Treatment and Counselling of Refugees Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims - Jutland United Nations Association Denmark Women’s Council in Denmark Positive developments Since Denmark underwent its last review by the Committee in 2007, it has made progress in a number of areas, notably with regard to the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints Authority (IPCA); reduction of solitary confinement during pre-trial detention; repealing of the statute of limitation for acts of torture with regard to criminal cases and the parliamentary decision to introduce number-tags on police uniforms so as to ensure proper identification of police officials and hereby enhance accountability. Issues of concern However, in