Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 48 entities
Commissions of inquiry 2012, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Commissions of inquiry into torture and other forms of ill-treatment are strong and flexible mechanisms that can yield substantial benefits for Governments, victim communities and the wider public. Unlike other mechanisms commonly engaged in the aftermath of allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, such as criminal investigations and prosecutions, commissions of inquiry provide unique opportunities for a deeper understanding of the underlying context in which violations were committed, review of governmental policies, practices and institutional shortcomings, truth-telling and contributing to the healing of victim communities, and independent expert recommendations on reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. Commissions of inquiry can also play an integral role in providing impetus and eventually facilitating the formal investigation of current systems or legacies of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and pave the way to effective and fair prosecutions. In these ways, commissions of inquiry may aid States in the fulfilment of their international legal obligations when allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment arise. However, in the absence of judicial mechanisms, a commission of inquiry alone will not satisfy a State's obligations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Impunity as a root cause of the prevalence of torture 2010, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Impunity is one of the root causes of the widespread practice of torture. This was recognized by the international community in the 1980s when adopting the Convention against Torture as the first human rights treaty with detailed obligations to criminalize torture, to establish broad jurisdictional competences, to investigate all allegations or suspicions of torture, and to arrest suspected perpetrators of torture and bring them to justice. In most of the 147 States parties to the Convention against Torture, those legal obligations, deriving from articles 4 to 9, 12 and 13 of the Convention, have not been implemented. States should, first of all, ensure through legislative measures that torture, as defined in article 1 of the Convention, is made a crime with appropriate penalties, which must be applicable on the basis of the principles of territoriality, nationality and universal jurisdiction. Secondly, States shall establish professional authorities to promptly and impartially investigate all allegations and suspicions of torture, with the aim of identifying the perpetrators, including superior officers who ordered or condoned torture, and bringing them to justice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also wishes to salute the outstanding work accomplished by his predecessors since the establishment of the mandate in 1985. He intends to consolidate and build on their achievements throughout his tenure.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that the mandate is part of a wider system and looks forward to working in close cooperation with the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, other special procedure mandate holders, regional anti-torture mechanisms, States and civil society actors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 74e
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding promoting medical documentation and the application of the Istanbul Protocol as a standard:] For signatories of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the National Preventive Mechanism has to include forensic expertise under the conditions mentioned in this report.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 74d
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding promoting medical documentation and the application of the Istanbul Protocol as a standard:] Allocate sufficient budgetary and technical resources to the "investigative authority";
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 74c
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding promoting medical documentation and the application of the Istanbul Protocol as a standard:] Ensure that powers of the "investigative authority" are enshrined in legislation;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 74b
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding promoting medical documentation and the application of the Istanbul Protocol as a standard:] Establish an "investigative authority" with guarantees of independence, efficiency and effectiveness and with powers to investigate sua sponte allegations of torture in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 74a
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding promoting medical documentation and the application of the Istanbul Protocol as a standard:] Endorse and support the Istanbul Protocol Plan of Action for the effective implementation of the Istanbul Protocol;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 73e
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding judicial recognition and evaluation of forensic evidence in cases involving torture:] Encourage independent health experts to review State examinations and to conduct their own independent assessments;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Certain forms of abuses in health-care settings that may cross a threshold of mistreatment that is tantamount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2013, para. 8d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to:] Ensure that all harm-reduction measures and drug-dependence treatment services, particularly opioid substitution therapy, are available to people who use drugs, in particular those among incarcerated populations (A/65/255, para. 76).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Certain forms of abuses in health-care settings that may cross a threshold of mistreatment that is tantamount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2013, para. 8c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to:] Establish an effective mechanism for monitoring dependence treatment practices and compliance with international norms;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 88d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to:] Spare no effort to ensure the full and effective implementation of all fundamental principles contained in international treaties, regional and international jurisprudence and instruments informed by up-to-date guidelines and standards such as the Rules;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 88c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to:] Keep abreast of recent developments in international norms and standards and adopt, at a bare minimum, legislation and practices that are compliant with the Rules;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 88a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to:] Apply the set of procedural standards and safeguards mentioned in the present report, at a minimum, to all cases of deprivation of liberty, as a matter of law and policy;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Overview of working methods and vision 2011, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur urges States to ratify the Protocol and promptly designate or establish a truly independent and effective National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in accordance with the Protocol. He also urges enhanced cooperation with relevant treaty body mechanisms, including the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the Human Rights Committee.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2017, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- States should systematically include the extra-custodial use of force in their regular reports to international mechanisms, such as the Committee against Torture and the Human Rights Committee (universal periodic review), and encourage international mechanisms, such as the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other special procedures, to examine the issue in their work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2017, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur supports and reiterates the joint recommendation made by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights convene an expert group to examine the application of the international human rights framework to “less lethal” weapons and unmanned systems for law enforcement purposes, including with a focus on their use in the context of assemblies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2017, para. 65a
- Paragraph text
- [In particular, as far as the extra-custodial use of force is concerned, States should ensure that their laws and regulations, including rules of engagement and similar instruments guiding and constraining the use of force in operational practice:] Absolutely prohibit and prevent any extra-custodial use of force by State agents intentionally and purposefully inflicting pain or suffering on powerless persons, irrespective of considerations of lawful purpose, necessity or proportionality;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Adopt and implement the Istanbul Protocol as an investigative tool and standard.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 89c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon the open-ended intergovernmental Expert Group to:] Continue to welcome and ensure active participation in the review process by specialized civil society organizations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 89b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon the open-ended intergovernmental Expert Group to:] Provide financial means to further support the revision process;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 89a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon the open-ended intergovernmental Expert Group to:] Consider the suggestions made in the present report in the deliberations ahead and in proposed revisions to the Rules;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 88h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to:] Allocate adequate resources, including properly trained staff, to ensure the full implementation of those standards;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2017, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur specifically welcomes prohibitions and restrictions introduced on the trade in certain goods that could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by European Council Regulation No. 1236/2005 of 27 June 2005 and encourages other States to take similar initiatives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 68d
- Paragraph text
- [Recommendations regarding the effective investigation of allegations of torture or other ill-treatment:] Ensure the application of the Istanbul and Minnesota Protocols when performing forensic autopsies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Certain forms of abuses in health-care settings that may cross a threshold of mistreatment that is tantamount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 2013, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- The preceding examples of torture and ill-treatment in health-care settings likely represent a small fraction of this global problem. Such interventions always amount at least to inhuman and degrading treatment, often they arguably meet the criteria for torture, and they are always prohibited by international law.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Solitary confinement 2011, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur urges States to prohibit the imposition of solitary confinement as punishment - either as a part of a judicially imposed sentence or a disciplinary measure. He recommends that States develop and implement alternative disciplinary sanctions to avoid the use of solitary confinement.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment from an extraterritorial perspective 2015, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- International human rights norms prohibiting torture and ill-treatment and mandating their prevention are applicable even in wartime and operate concurrently and complementarily with applicable laws of war norms. The Special Rapporteur calls upon States to implement international humanitarian law obligations that are more protective than those under the Convention against Torture, such as the "overall control" test and the broadened definition of torture that omits the public official requirement.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The scope and objective of the exclusionary rule in judicial proceedings and in relation to acts by executive actors 2014, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur observes that in practice, the transition from an executive operation to a quasi-judicial or judicial one is often seamless and that operational intelligence is often relied on in the legal proceedings that follow. By utilizing tainted information originally obtained for intelligence and policing purposes the courts tacitly endorse and condone the torture or ill-treatment itself, contradicting the very essence of the exclusionary rule.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph