A/HRC/RES/43/20
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
2 July 2020
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-third session
24 February–13 March and 15–23 June 2020
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 22 June 2020
43/20.
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment: mandate of the Special Rapporteur
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling international human rights law, standards and guidelines on torture and
other cruel inhuman degrading treatment or punishment,
Reaffirming that no one shall be subjected to torture or to 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 that must be respected and
protected under all circumstances, including in times of international and internal armed
conflict or internal disturbance or any other public emergency, that the absolute prohibition
of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in the
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, and that international, regional and domestic courts have recognized the prohibition of
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to be customary international law,
Recognizing the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the prevention and fight against
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the
Council, and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the
Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her
duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,
1.
Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for a further period of three years:
(a)
To seek, receive, examine and act on information from Governments,
intergovernmental and civil society organizations, individuals and groups of individuals
GE.20-08875(E)