A/RES/70/146 United Nations Distr.: General 12 February 2016 General Assembly Seventieth session Agenda item 72 (a) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2015 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/70/489/Add.1)] 70/146. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Reaffirming also that no one shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recalling that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitaria n law, that must be respected and protected under all circumstances, including in times of international or internal armed conflict or disturbance or any other public emergency, that the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in relevant international instruments and that legal and procedural safeguards against such acts must not be subject to measures that would circumvent this right, Recalling also that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law without territorial limitation and that international, regional and domestic courts have recognized the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as customary international law, Recalling further the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1 and the obligation of States to abide strictly by the definition of torture contained in article 1, without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which contains or may contain provisions of wider application, and emphasizing the importance of properly interpreting and implementing the obligations of States with respect to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recognizing that States must protect the rights of those facing criminal sentences, including the death penalty and life imprisonment without the possibility _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. 15-16900 (E) *1516900* Please recycle

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