Oral Statement to be delivered by the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)

36TH session-September 21, 2017

Item 6- UPR Outcomes: Brazil

Oral Statement to be delivered by the World Organization Against Torture(OMCT)

Thank you Mr.President,

The WorldOrganization Against Torture (OMCT) welcomes the report of the Working Group onthe UPR of Brazil and would like to thank all Member States that have relayedthe concerns expressed by civil society organizations.

We welcomeparticularly the recommendation to reject the proposed Constitutional amendmentand draft bills that seek to reduce the age of criminal responsibility,especially considering that the Brazilian Senate is scheduled to vote on thisissue next week.

We are also concernedabout bills aiming at increasing the time of detention for children andencourage the Brazilian Government to reject them, in line with itsinternational obligations.

We welcomerecommendations to prevent and combat torture and ill-treatment, and to conducttimely and impartial investigations into all allegations of unlawful killings,abuse and torture involving security forces and prison personnel, especiallyfor crimes committed against children deprived of liberty.

We encourage Brazilto ensure that Local Preventive Mechanisms for the Prevention and combat oftorture are created and that the National Mechanism is effectively implemented.

Finally, weencourage the Government of Brazil to ratify the third optional protocol to theConvention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure ensuringthat children are able to petition internationally for their rights. Thank