CAT concluding observations 2019, paragraph 53
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Provide the UN with detailed data on asylum applications that involve torture claims and the outcomes of such claims. The data should be disaggregated by the applicants’ country of origin and/or return. (b) Review the use of the standard of proof in asylum decisions. Improve the way that Home Office caseworkers assess claims, including their evaluation of medical evidence of past torture, and particularly in applications for asylum from nationals of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. (c) Review the inclusion of Ukraine on the list of safe countries for return of asylum seekers, in light of the recent findings of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Original UN recommendation
The State party should: (a) Compile detailed statistical data on the number of asylum applications involving torture claims and their outcome, disaggregated by the applicants’ country of origin and/or return, and provide this information to the Committee. (b) Review the application of the standard of proof in asylum decisions and improve performance in this area, including with respect to caseworkers’ evaluation of medical evidence of past torture, and particularly with respect to negative determinations on applications for asylum from nationals of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. (c) Review the State party’s inclusion of Ukraine on the list of safe countries for return of asylum seekers, particularly in light of the recent findings of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Date of UN examination
08/05/2019
UN article number
3 (non-refoulement), 16 (cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment)
Original UN document
Download the CAT concluding observations 2019 on the UN website