A national commission against torture to be created in Ukraine

There are plans to create a National Commission Against Torture in Ukraine.

As reported to UNIAN by the press service of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, this was announced during a ‘round table’ meeting on issues related to the creation of a preventive mechanism against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and punishment in Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the ‘round table’ involved a discussion of ways to implement Ukraine’s obligations regarding the creation of a preventive mechanism against torture. These obligations were undertaken by the state as a result of Ukraine’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

As noted during the meeting, the Ministry of Justice is currently developing a draft law that provides for the introduction of preventive mechanisms against torture in Ukraine. Among other things, the draft law will provide for the creation of a special state body that will exercise control over penal institutions (currently, there are about 1,500 penitentiary institutions and special facilities in Ukraine).

The event was attended by specialists from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Department for the Execution of Punishments, the secretariats of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, as well as public organisations.

The next ‘round table’ meeting, at which proposals for the aforementioned draft law from interested government bodies and public organisations will be presented, is planned for December of this year.