Committee against Torture

Concluding observations on the sixth and seventh periodic reports of Sweden *

The Committee against Torture considered the sixth and seventh combined periodic reports of Sweden (CAT/C/SWE/6-7) at its 1252nd and 1255th meetings, held on 4 and 5November 2014 (CAT/C/SR.1252 and 1255), and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1272th meeting, held on 18November 2014 (CAT/C/SR.1272).

A.Introduction

The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the optional reporting procedure, as it improves the cooperation and the dialogue between the State party and the Committee. The Committee also welcomes the submission of the common core document (HRI/CORE/SWE/2011).

The Committee welcomes the interactivedialogue held with the multisectoral delegation of the State party and the additional information provided by the delegation to the Committee.

B.Positive aspects

The Committee welcomes the ratification by the State partyof the following international and regional instruments:

(a)The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Protocol, in 2008;

(b)The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, in 2010;

(c)The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, in 2014.

The Committee welcomes the following legislative and other measures taken by the State party in areas of relevance to the Convention:

(a)The entry into force of the Act on Criminal Responsibility for Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes, on 1 July 2014;

(b)The entry into force of the new Anti-Discrimination Act, on 1 January 2009;

(c)The efforts made to comply with the obligations under article22 of the Convention.

C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

Definition and criminalization of torture and the statute of limitations

The Committee welcomes the factthat an inquiry was commissioned in June 2014to consider the need for a specific provision on torture in Swedish penal law.The Committee expresses its continuing concernthat the State party has not yet specifically incorporated the crime of torture, as defined in article1 of the Convention, into domestic law.The absence of torture as a criminal offencecreates actual or potential loopholes for impunity and obstructs the victim’s capacity to access and enjoy his or her rights guaranteed in the Convention.Further, the Committee is concerned that the offence of torture,which is subsumed in the offence of assault and aggravated assault,is subject to astatute of limitationson that account in Swedish legislation(arts.1 and 4).

The Committee reiterate s its previous recommendation (CAT/C/SWE/CO/5, para. 9) and urges the State party , as a matter of priority, to define and criminali ze torture in domestic law , in full compliance with article s 1 and 4 of the Convention. Recalling its general comment No. 2 (2007) o n the implementation of article 2 by State s parties, the Committee considers that by naming and defining the offence of torture in accordance with the terms of the Convention , as distinct from other crimes, States parties will directly advance the overarching aim of the Convention to prevent torture , inter alia, by alerting everyone, including perpetrators, victims and the public, to the special gravity of the crime of torture , and by improving the deterrent effect of the prohibition itself . Furthermore, the State party should ensure that acts amounting to torture , as defined in article 1 of the Convention , are not subject to any statute of limitations in its law .

Fundamental legal safeguards

While taking note of the new Act on Detention (2010:611) regulating procedures for arrest and temporary detention in custody or other detention facilities, the Committee remains concerned thatpersons deprived of their liberty, including minors, are not always afforded all fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of deprivation of liberty, such as the rights to access to a lawyer, to independent medical examination and to notify a relative or a person of their choice. The Committee is concerned at reports thatthe right of notification of custody isoften unduly delayed in the interests of the investigation and that access to health care for persons in police custody continues tobe left to the discretion of the police (art.2).

Recalling the Committee’s general comment No. 2 , the State party should take all necessary measures to ensure that all persons deprived of their liberty are afforded, in law and in practice, all the fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of deprivation of liberty, in particular the right to access to a lawyer, the right to a medical examination by an independent doctor, preferably of their own choice , and the right to notify a relative, in accordance with the international standards.

Imposition of restrictions, including isolation

The Committee notes with regret the position of the State party on the necessity of the use of restraints, such as isolation, during the preliminary investigation in the Swedish legal system. In particular, the Committee remains concerned at:(arts.2, 11 and 16)

(a)The high percentage of remand prisoners who are subject to restrictions and the differing restrictions which exist concerning their communications with the outside world;

(b)The widespread and, in some cases, prolonged use of solitary confinement in pretrial detention;

(c)The application of such restrictions, including isolation, to minors in police cells, remand prisons and special residential homes;

(d)The incidents of suicide or suicide attempts in places of detention, in particular in remand prisons, suggesting they are the result ofthe use ofrestraints such as isolation measures.

The Committee urges the State party to :

(a) U se restrictions on remand prisoners only as an exceptional measure based on concrete grounds , laying them down in the law in acc o rdance with international standards and only when strictly necessary in the interest of criminal investigations . To that end, the State party should establish clear guidelines for public prosecutors on the application of restrictions;

( b ) A bolish the use of solitary confinement for minors and set up a juvenile justice system in compliance with international standards ;

( c ) C arry out thorough investigations of incidents of suicide or suicide attempts, and ascertain whether there is a link between the use of measures of physical restraint and the incidents of suicide or suicide attempts in places of detention.

Pretrial detention

The Committeeappreciates the various measures taken by the State party to reduce pretrial detention periods. However, the Committee remains concerned at the absence of a maximum timelimit for such detention and the minimal attention given to alternatives to such detention.Furthermore, the Committee expresses its serious concerns that minors continue to be subjected to pretrial detention and that there is a lack of general and formalized routines as tohow to handle minors in pretrial detention, as raised in the annual report of the Ombudsman for Children in 2013 (arts.2 and 11).

The S tate party should use pretrial detention as a measure of last resort, in particular for minors . In that regard, the State party should consider alternative measures to its use and ensure that the decisions imposing pretrial detention are based on objective criteria and supporting facts . It should also develop clear rules for the treatment of minors in police custody and monitor the effective implementation in practice of th os e rules.

Detention of asylumseekers

While welcomingthe ongoing review of the legal framework on detention under the Aliens Act, the Committee is concerned that(a)the time limit is fora maximum of 12 monthsunder the Aliens Act, asamended on 1 May 2012; (b)there are reports thatthe detention of asylumseekers is not always used only as a measure of last resort and that the limitations are not always only for the shortest possible time; (c)the use of detention is,in practice, much more common than supervision;and (d)some asylumseekers are still placed in remand prisons for security or other exceptional reasons (arts.11 and 16).

The State party should take all necessary measures to ensure that the detention of asylum seekers is used only as a last resort and, where necessary, for as short a period as possible and without excessive restrictions . The Committee recommends that the State party review s the law and practice in relation to the exceptional ly lengthy detention of asylum seekers and in order to improve the capacity of the detention cent res run by the Migration Board , with a view to avoiding the placement of asylum seekers in remand prison s .

Non-refoulement

The Committee welcomes the positive developments in this matter, includingthe permanent residence permits granted to Mr.Agiza in July 2012 and Mr.Alzery in April 2014 and the legal position issued by the Migration Board,with a view to improving investigation skills for cases of torture victims, in line with the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of R.C. v. Sweden (application No. 41827/07). The Committee also notes that all asylumseekers, including those from Iraq, are individually considered and that diplomatic assurances are considered only in exceptional cases. However, the Committee remains concerned at: (arts.3 and 10)

(a)Reports that returns to some countries havenot always taken into accountthe risks facing individuals due to their ethnicity or religion;

(b)The lack of clear guidelines on identification and proper documentation of torture victims and investigationin such cases;

(c)Gaps in policy and obstacles to family reunification, including strict requirements for identity document requirements;

(d)The high number of asylum seekers returned “voluntarily” or “non-voluntarily” to Iraq.

The State party should respect, in law and in practice, its no n-refoulement obligations under article 3 of the Convention, inter alia, by :

(a) U ndertaking a judicial review of all decisions of deportation of all persons, with particular attention paid to the risks faced due to ethnicity or religion ;

(b) E stablishing clear guidelines and related training on the investigation and documentation of torture and the identification of torture victims among asylum seekers ;

(c) R eviewing the criteria and procedural requirements pertaining to family reunification ;

(d) R efraining from the use of diplomatic assurances as a means of returning a person to another country where the person would face a risk of torture.

Unaccompanied children

The Committee welcomes the Common Action Plan developed by the Border Control Police in Stockholm,with a view to minimizing the risk of unaccompanied children becoming victims of trafficking. However, the Committee remains concerned atthe vulnerable situation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors and the children of irregular immigrants or undocumented children (art.16).

The State party should ensure that adequate protection measures exist and are given effect to in the case of children seeking asylum or migration, including better monitoring of the persons into whose care a child is placed .

Use of coercive and intrusive measures in psychiatric hospitals

The Committee values thesteps taken by the Government to reduce the use of coercive measures and to ensure the safety of patients in psychiatric institutions and hospitals. However, the Committee remains concerned at:(art.16)

(a)The widespread use of coercive and intrusive measures, such as physical restraints and solitary confinement,including for young patients;

(b)The incompleteness of the registration system and proper safeguardsfor the use of electroshock therapy;

(c)The lack of effective and impartial investigation of the excessive use of restrictive measures.

The State party should :

U se restraints and solitary confinement as a measure of last resort , for the shortest possible time and under strict medical supervision ;

I ntroduce a n integral registration system and appropriate safeguards for administer ing electroshock therapy ;

E nsure effective monitoring of the conditions in psychiatric institutions ;

P rovide training to medical and non-medical staff on methods of non-violent and non-coercive care.

Investigations

The Committee is concerned at reportedcasesof ill-treatment and excessive use of force by the police, the lack of independent, impartial and effective investigations of such incidents and the absence of an independent body for investigation of complaints of police misconduct. The Committee notes that a Department of Special Investigations, with autonomous standing, will be established in 2015 within the police at the national level, including seven regional investigation units (arts.12, 13 and 16).

The Committee re calls its previous recommendation ( CAT/C/SWE/CO/5, para. 18 ) and urges the State party to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigation by an independent body into all allegations of ill-treatment and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials .

Hate crimes

While noting the priority consideration given by the Equality Ombudsmanand the National Police Board to combating and preventing hate crimes, the Committee remains concerned at reports of violence and criminal acts motivated by hatred towards minorities and other vulnerable groups in Sweden, including Muslims, Afro-Swedes, Roma and Jews, as well aspersons belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.In that context, the Committee is concerned at aseries of violent attacks in Malmö and at the low level of compensation paid tothousands of Roma Swedes,whose names were registered by the police in southern Swedenowing to their ethnicity.The discrepancy between increased reports to the police of hate crimes and the decrease in the number of preliminary investigations and convictions is a matter of concern. According to reports before the Committee, during 2007, 155 cases of agitation against ethnicminorities were reported, but the Attorney General initiated proceedings against barely6ofthem(arts.12, 13 and 16).

The Committee recalls its position that the special protection of minorities , or marginalized individuals or groups especially at risk , is part of the obligation of the State part y to prevent torture or ill-treatment ( see general comment No. 2, para. 21). In th at respect, the State party should intensify its efforts to prevent and prosecute criminal acts motivated by discrimination, intolerance , hatred or negative stereotype by:

(a) E nsuring effective investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators ;

(b) C ollecting detailed information and statistics on the number and type of hate crimes, on the administrative and judicial measures taken to investigate and prosecute such crimes and on the sentences imposed ;

(c) I ncreasing awareness-raising and information campaigns to promote tolerance and respect for diversity , a s well as measures fostering a sense of security for communities at risk .

Gender-based violence

While welcoming the adoption by Sweden of abroader legal definition of rapeand an increase inthe minimum penalty for gross sexual abuse of a child, the Committee remains concerned at the increasingly high incidence of violence against women compared to the low number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions in rape cases(arts. 2, 4, 12, 13 and16).

T he State party should intensify its efforts to combat all forms of violence against women , including domestic violence and rape, in particular by :

S etting up a gender- se nsitive system to receive and deal with such complaints ;

P unishing perpetrators with appropriate penalties and providing adequate protection and assistance to the victims ;

C onduct in g awareness-raising campaigns for the public at large and , in particular , providing training on domestic violence issues for law enforcement personnel, judges, lawyers and social workers who interact with the alleged and actual victims , in order to prevent and prosecute gender-based violence .

Trafficking in persons

The Committee commends the significant efforts made by the State partyto combat trafficking in persons and to assist victims of trafficking, including the adoption of a National Action Plan on human trafficking in July 2008 and of an Action Plan for the protection of children against human trafficking, exploitation and sexual assaults in February 2014. However, the Committee remains concerned at: (arts.2, 12, 13, 14 and 16)

(a)Reports of the increasing number of victims of trafficking for the purpose of various forms of exploitation, such as labour exploitation, forced begging and forced criminalityinvolving children;

(b)The very limited number of cases filed, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators of trafficking, as well as at the lack of protection and remedy provided to victims.

The State party should enhance its efforts to combat trafficking in persons by prosecuting and punishing perpetrators , providing adequate protection and redress to the victims and preventing the return of trafficked persons to their countries of origin where there is a substantial ground to believe that they would be in danger of torture or ill-treatment .

Training

Notwithstanding the detailed information provided on training programmes for State officials, the Committee regrets the paucity of information on (a)specific training regarding the provisions of the Convention; (b)evaluation of the effectiveness of those programmes in reducing incidents of torture and ill-treatment; and (c)training of health personnel on the Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol)(arts.10 and 16).

The State party should intensify its efforts to provide (a) training programmes on the prohibition of torture and the obligations of the State party under the Convention, for all officials ; and (b) systematic and practical training on the Istanbul Protocol to medical personnel who are in direct contact with persons deprived of their liberty. The State party is encouraged to sensiti ze the media to its obligations under the Convention, in particular the absolute prevention of torture.

Data collection

While noting that some statistics have been provided, the Committee regrets the lack of comprehensive and disaggregated data, which has made it difficult for the Committee to monitor and assess the implementation of the Convention bythe State party at the national level (arts.2, 12, 13, 14 and 16).

The State party should as a matter or urgency compile statistical data on complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions of cases of torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement and prison personnel ; on gender-based violence, including domestic violence and trafficking ; on hate crimes ; and on the means of redress provided to victims, including compensation and rehabilitation.

Other issues

The Committee invites the State party to ratify the core United Nations human rights treaties to which it is not yet a party, including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Familiesand the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The State party is requested to disseminate widely the report submitted to the Committee and the Committee’s concluding observations, in appropriate languages, through official websites, the media and non-governmental organizations.

The Committee requests the State party to provide, by 28November 2015, follow-up information in response to the Committee’s recommendations related to ensuring or strengthening legal safeguardsfor persons deprived of their liberty and ensuringeffective investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators, as contained in paragraphs7, 8(a), 14 and 15 (a) of the present document.

The State party is invited to submit its next report, which will be the eighth periodic report, by 28 November 2018. To that purpose, the Committee will, in due course, submit to the State party a list of issues prior to reporting, considering that the State party has agreedto report to the Committee under the optional reporting procedure.