MSAR rejects independent human rights body

The MSAR has rejected a United Nations Committee Against Torture suggestion to establish an independent human rights body, According to a TDM report, the response to the committee’s requester stresses that the SAR’s legal system already protects human rights and that the region is part of China
The United Nations Committee against Torture is meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, where it discussed a report submitted by the Macau government that dismisses the suggestion by the UN body to set up an independent human rights institution.
“The recommendation of establishing an independent human rights institution is not applicable in the MSAR, as an administrative region of the People’s Republic of China”, according to the Macau SAR report, entitled “Response to the List of Issues of the Committee against Torture.”
However it is not yet clear whether the government’s refusal is due to Macau’s status as a territory (and not a country), or to Beijing’s rejection of human rights as universal values.
“The MSAR does not have an independent human rights institution but it has to be stressed that existing legal stipulations and systems ensure the full protection of human rights”, the statement said.
The government report shows that in the last 10 years CCAC received 57 complaints over crimes of torture. Only five are still being followed-up, with all others having been dropped. The Committee asked Macau to ensure that the crime of torture constitutes one single offence.
According to TDM, the authorities said they will look into it the next time they review the Criminal Code. New Macau Association vice-president Jason Chao is attending the Geneva meeting. Staff reporter