UN SUBCOMMITTEE ON PREVENTION OF TORTURE CONCLUDES VISIT TO THE MALDIVES

Geneva, 19 December 2007 - The newly established United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has recently carried out an eight day visit to the Maldives from 10 to 17 December 2007. The SPT was established according to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), which entered in force on June 22nd 2006. The treaty is the first universal instrument which seeks to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment and improve conditions of detention through the establishment of a system of regular visits to places of detention carried out by independent national and international bodies.
The mission to Maldives was the second visit by the SPT, established on the programme of regular visits drawn by a lot. The SPT, which has the mandate to visit all States parties and make recommendations to the authorities to establish effective measures against ill-treatment, is complemented at the national level by national preventive mechanisms (NPMs), which States Parties have undertaken to create one year after OPCAT entry in force. One of the SPT’s key activities is to assist and support the development and work of the NPMs.
The following SPT Members were on the delegation that visited Maldives:
- Hans Draminsky PETERSEN (Head of Delegation and Vice-Chairperson of the SPT)
- Marija DEFINIS-GOJANOVIC
- Zdenek HAJEK
- Zbigniew LASOCIK
- Victor RODRIGUEZ RESCIA (Vice-Chairperson of the SPT)
- Miguel SARRE IGUINIZ

They were assisted by two external experts: Mark KELLY and R. Vasu PILLAI. The delegation was supported by three members of the OHCHR acting as the SPT’s Secretariat.
During the visit the SPT delegation held meetings at central level with many officials, including Mr. Abdullah Kamaludheen, Minister of Home Affairs; Ms. Aishath Azima Shakoor, Attorney General; Ms. Dunya Maumoon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Mohamed Anil, Commissioner of Legal Reforms; Mr. Ahmed Shihan, Director General of the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (Ministry of Home Affairs), Mr. Adam Zahir, Commissioner of Police, and Ms. Sheena Mosa, Director General of Health Services (Ministry of health).
The SPT also held discussions with Ahmed Saleem, President of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, (the institution appointed as the National Preventive Mechanism under the OPCAT) concerning the development of the national preventive mechanism (NPM) in the Maldives. The SPT, which has the mandate to visit all States parties and make recommendations to the authorities to establish effective measures against ill-treatment, is complemented at the national level by national preventive mechanisms (NPMs), which States Parties have undertaken to create one year after OPCAT entry in force.
During the visit, the SPT reviewed the treatment of persons deprived of liberty in Maldives and conducted private interviews with persons deprived of liberty in 12 police establishments, 4 prisons (two of which under construction), 2 facilities for juveniles, 2 drug rehabilitation centres and 1 establishment under the National Security Services of the Maldives.
At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its confidential preliminary observations to the Maldivian authorities.
The SPT has two guiding principles- cooperation and confidentiality which lie at the heart of the OPCAT. The preventive approach aims at protecting people deprived of their liberty rather than condemning States. The SPT therefore communicates its recommendations and observations confidentially to the State Party.

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Places of deprivation of liberty visited by the delegation:
NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE

Police Detention Centres

· Male Custodial (Atholhuvehi Detention Centre)
· Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre

Police Stations
· Male Police headquarters (Hussein Adam building)
· Maafanu Police station
· Vilingili Police station
· Addu Atholhu Police station
· Fuvamulah (Fuahmulaku) Police station
· Hulhumeedhoo Police station
· Kulhudhufushi Police station
· Hoarafushi Police station
· Ha. Dhidhdoo Police station
· Hithadhoo Police station


PENITENTIARY SERVICE
Prisons establishments
· Maafushi prison
· Male prison (Male remand centre)
· Male new prison building
· Hithadhoo new prison building



ESTABLISHMENTS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF GENDER AND FAMILY

· Vilingili children’s home
· Himmafushi drug rehabilitation centre
· Feydhoofinolhu detoxification centre



ESTABLISHMENT UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICES

· Girifushi NSS training centre


ESTABLISHMENT UNDER THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

· Maafushi education and training centre for children