The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) has published its latest findings on Gabon, Italy, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, outlining key concerns and recommendations following its recent review session.
The findings, known as concluding observations, assess each country’s compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Gabon
The Committee expressed alarm over detention conditions in Gabon, citing severe prison overcrowding driven by prolonged pretrial detention and limited use of alternatives to imprisonment. Libreville prison was reported to have reached overcrowding levels of between 400 and 700 percent in 2026.
CAT urged Gabon to improve detention conditions in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules, reduce overcrowding, and ensure pretrial detention is applied only in exceptional cases.
It also noted that Gabon’s National Human Rights Commission, designated as a National Preventive Mechanism in 2024, is not yet operational due to delays in appointments and insufficient resources. The Committee called for its urgent establishment and safeguards to ensure independence.
Italy
Regarding Italy, the Committee acknowledged challenges linked to fluctuating migration flows but raised concerns over alleged pushbacks at borders and continued cooperation with the Libyan coastguard under a 2017 agreement.
It recommended that Italy uphold the principle of non-refoulement and review its migration arrangements to ensure compliance with international obligations. The Committee also raised concerns about detention facilities used abroad, including in Albania, and called for legal clarity regarding detainees’ rights.
Additionally, CAT expressed concern over special detention regimes that may involve prolonged solitary confinement exceeding international standards. It urged Italy to limit such measures strictly, ensuring they are proportionate, time-bound, and used only as a last resort.
Pakistan
The Committee voiced concern over Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan nationals under the 2023 Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan, citing reports that individuals were returned without proper assessment of protection risks.
It also highlighted allegations of coercive measures against Afghan nationals, including harassment, threats, arbitrary detention, and police abuse, and called for investigations and accountability.
CAT further raised concerns about reports of torture, ill-treatment, and reprisals against human rights defenders, journalists, political activists, and critics of the government. It urged authorities to ensure protection, conduct thorough investigations, and provide remedies to victims.
The Committee also referred to cases involving several detainees, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, as well as activists such as Idris Khattak, Ali Wazir, and Mahrang Baloch. It cited findings by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and recommended a review of such cases, including ensuring access to medical care.
Tajikistan
In Tajikistan, the Committee expressed alarm over reported deaths in police custody allegedly linked to torture, coerced confessions, and lack of medical care. It also raised concerns about the independence of forensic investigations and called for impartial inquiries in line with international standards.
The Committee encouraged Tajikistan to strengthen oversight of detention facilities, allow independent monitoring, and consider joining the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which предусматриes the establishment of independent inspection mechanisms.
Ongoing Monitoring
The Committee’s findings form part of its regular review process of States Parties to the Convention. It called on all four countries to implement the recommendations and report progress in due course.