Prevention of Torture: UN human rights body presents confidential preliminary findings to the Government of Liberia

UNITED NATIONS

Press Release

Monrovia, 13 December 2010 – The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) presented today its confidential preliminary observations to the Government of Liberia, in conclusion of its first visit to Liberia, which took place from 6 to 13 December 2010. During the visit, the SPT met with relevant national authorities and representatives of civil society, and conducted visits to several places of deprivation of liberty (see attached list), including police stations and prisons, in Bomi, Grand Gedeh, Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba.

“We hope that our visit to Liberia will contribute to the current ongoing efforts of the Liberian Government and other stakeholders to prevent conditions that may put persons deprived of their liberty at risk of torture or ill treatment”, stated Zdenek Hajek, Head of the SPT Delegation to Liberia.

The SPT mandate permits it to conduct on-site visits and make recommendations to the authorities to establish effective safeguards against the risk of torture and ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty. The SPT mandate is complemented at the national level by a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). Liberia undertook to create an NPM one year after the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, but the establishment of such a national body remains pending.

“While it is for the Liberian authorities to decide which form the NPM should take, the NPM should be established in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Optional Protocol. The mandate, powers and operational independence of the NPM should clearly be guaranteed by law and in practice”, emphasized Hajek.

During the visit, the SPT had the opportunity to review the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in Liberia, and the safeguards for their protection against torture and ill-treatment. The SPT conducted private interviews with persons deprived of their liberty in the institutions that were visited.

The SPT Delegation to Liberia was composed of the following members: Mr. Zdenek HAJEK (Head of Delegation), Ms. Marija DEFINIS-GOJANOVIC, Mr. Malcolm EVANS, and Mr. Miguel SARRE. The SPT delegation benefited from the support of the United Nations system in Liberia, in particular the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Human Rights and Protection Section (HRPS).

ENDS

For more information about the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/opcat/index.htm

Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat-one.htm

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PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY IN LIBERIA

Civil prisons:
In Montserrado:

• Monrovia Central Prison

In Margibi:

• Kakata Detention Center

In Nimba:

• Sanniquellie Detention Center

In Grand Gedeh:

• National Palace of Corrections in Zwedru

In Bomi:

• Tubmanburg Central Prison

Police stations:
In Montserrado:

• Liberia National Police Headquarters in Monrovia
• Zone three LNP station in Congotown
• Salem Base LNP depot in Spriggs Field
• Zone five LNP station in Paynesville

In Margibi:

• Kakata LNP station

In Nimba:

• Sanniquellie LNP station
• Ganta LNP station
• Ganta border police depot

In Grand Gedeh:

•    Zwedru LNP station
•    Toetown LNP station

In Bomi:

• Tubmanburg LNP station
• Tubmanburg Women and Children’s Center

National Security Agency (NSA) holding facilities:
In Montserrado:

• NSA holding facility in Monrovia

Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) detention facilities:
In Nimba:

• Ganta BIN office

Healthcare facilities:
In Montserrado:

• JFK Hospital