A/HRC/RES/13/19
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
15 April 2010
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirteenth session
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*
13/19
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment: the role and responsibility of judges,
prosecutors and lawyers
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling all resolutions on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and
the Council,
Recalling also Human Rights Council resolution 12/3 of 1 October 2009 on the
independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors and the independence
of lawyers, and Human Rights Council decision 2/110 of 27 November 2006 on the
integrity of the judicial system,
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 that must be protected under all circumstances,
including during states of emergency and in times of international or internal armed
conflicts or disturbance and that the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in relevant international instruments,
stressing that legal and procedural safeguards against such acts must not be subject to
measures that would circumvent this right, and emphasizing that judges, prosecutors and
lawyers play a critical role in safeguarding this right,
*
GE.10-12970
The resolutions and decisions of the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the
Council on its thirteenth session (A/HRC/13/56), chap. I.