States must be “primary responders” in torture cases, to end impunity and bring justice on behalf of victims, a UN independent expert told the Human Rights Council on Tuesday.
South Africa must swiftly set up a watchdog mechanism to examine prisons, detention centres, and other facilities, UN independent experts on torture prevention said on Monday, citing “entrenched” ill treatment.
Nearly four decades on from the adoption of the UN Convention against Torture, there is evidence that it is still taking place in all regions of the world, even though it’s a recognized international crime.
On this week’s episode of The lid Is On, Conor Lennon met Claude Heller and Suzanne Jabour – the chairpersons of the UN Committee against Torture, and the Sub-committee on the Prevention of Torture – two independent human rights experts who attempt to convince countries to end the practice.
Experts serving on a UN human rights treaty body called on Thursday for the new Taliban-led authorities of Afghanistan to uphold “the international obligations of the State”, particularly in complying with all provisions of the Convention against Torture, outlawing the practice “in any circumstances”.
Although laws in Iraq criminalize torture and set out procedural safeguards to prevent it, a new report released on Tuesday by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), makes clear that the practice continues in jails throughout the country.
Torture in any form, is absolutely unacceptable and can never be justified, top United Nations officials said on Tuesday, urging great support for victims worldwide.
An initiative to end the trade in lethal drugs and other tools used for capital punishment or torture has been hailed by a senior UN official as a potential “step forward in civilization.”
Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour was speaking about a Global Alliance launched in September by the European Union and its partners.
Mr Gilmour sat down with Nargis Shekinskaya recently to discuss ongoing efforts to end the death penalty globally.
Duration: 4’13”