The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the Strategy for Combating Torture in the Criminal Justice System and a plan of measures for its implementation, the corresponding decision was made at a government meeting on Oct. 28.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Justice, the document defines the directions for the development of the national system for combating torture committed by law enforcement officials.
In particular, the strategy provides for a set of measures aimed at preventing ill-treatment by law enforcement agencies, and in the event of such cases – investigating citizens’ claims.
“The document is designed for a medium-term period and is limited to a specific goal – combating torture in the criminal justice system, fulfilling Ukraine’s obligations to the Council of Europe and building an effective system for combating torture, which provides for proper coordination and interaction of state bodies, as well as international cooperation,” the message reads.
The term “torture” in the document refers to all types of ill-treatment provided for in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, including torture itself and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
It is noted that the strategy for combating torture in the criminal justice system was developed at the initiative of the Prosecutor General’s Office, which provides overall coordination of the activities of law enforcement agencies in the pretrial investigation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and leading national experts in the field of criminal justice.
