A/RES/65/205
the statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons
Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International
Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens
Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of
Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 and the Rome
Statute of the International Criminal Court, 3 acts of torture can constitute crimes
against humanity and, when committed in a situation of armed conflict, constitute
war crimes,
Emphasizing that the entry into force as soon as possible of the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 4 and its
implementation will make a significant contribution to the prevention and
prohibition of torture, including by prohibiting secret places of detention, and
encouraging all States that have not done so to consider signing, ratifying or
acceding to the Convention,
Commending the persistent efforts of civil society organizations, including
non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and the
considerable network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, to
prevent and combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture,
Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
1.
treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain
prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified,
and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute and non-derogable
prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment;
Emphasizes that States must take persistent, determined and effective
2.
measures to prevent and combat all acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment, stresses that all acts of torture must be made
offences under domestic criminal law, and encourages States to prohibit under
domestic law acts constituting cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment;
Welcomes the establishment of national preventive mechanisms to
3.
prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
encourages all States that have not yet done so to establish such mechanisms, and
calls upon States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 5 to fulfil their
obligation to designate or establish truly independent and effective national
preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment;
Emphasizes the importance of States ensuring proper follow-up to the
4.
recommendations and conclusions of the relevant treaty bodies and mechanisms,
including the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the
Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
_______________
3
Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544.
Resolution 61/177, annex.
5
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2375, No. 24841.
4
2