torture

Mr. Juan Mendez, Special Rapporteur on Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

After CIA torture revelations, US must now recover moral high ground – UN expert

11 December 2014
The United States' use of torture when interrogating prisoners captured in its “War on Terror” has damaged the country's moral high ground and created a set-back in the global fight against the condemnable practice, a United Nations human rights expert has declared.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

On Human Rights Day, UN official calls for Member States to ‘stamp out torture’

10 December 2014
Governments must ramp up their efforts in eradicating the practice of torture and compensate the victims of this “most vicious of crimes,” the top United Nations human rights official has urged, as he marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention against Torture.
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Ben Emmerson.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN expert calls for prosecution of CIA, US officials for crimes committed during interrogations

9 December 2014
A United States Senate report has confirmed what the international community has long believed – that there was a clear policy orchestrated at a high level within the Bush Administration which allowed to commit gross violations of international human rights law, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights said today.
Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture Malcolm Evans.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

UN torture prevention body highlights States’ duty to allow access detention centres

3 December 2014
Countries that have ratified a key legal protocol that allows United Nations experts unannounced and unhindered access to places of detention are obliged to co-operate with such visits, the world body’s Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has reminded today.
Photo: IRIN
IRIN

UN rights experts call on US to commute death sentence of mentally ill prisoner

2 December 2014
Two United Nations human rights experts today urged the United States Government and the authorities in Texas to halt the execution of Scott Panetti, a prisoner with proven psychosocial disabilities, due to be carried out on 3 December.
US President Barack Obama.
UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

UN rights experts urge US President Obama to release report on CIA torture allegations

26 November 2014
The United States must rise to meet the high human rights standards it has set for itself and others around the world, a group of United Nations human rights experts urged today, as they called on President Obama to support “the fullest possible release” of a report detailing Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogation practices.
Torture victims undergo rehabilitation at the African Centre for the Prevention and Resolution of Conflicts, in Senegal. The centre is funded by the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.
OHCHR

UN rights expert urges ratification of treaty against torture, ahead of 30th anniversary

3 November 2014
As the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of an international legal framework to prevent torture and other types of inhumane treatment or punishment approaches, a United Nations rights expert urged the committee charged with monitoring its implementation to use the momentum garnered in the celebrations to accelerate efforts to move towards universal ratification of the treaty.
Mr. Juan Mendez, Special Rapporteur on Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Forensic services must be independent from law enforcement – UN expert tells Assembly

22 October 2014
To be effective, an investigation into torture must be prompt, impartial, independent and thorough, but that seems to be the exception in many countries, where forensic services are closely linked with law enforcement agencies, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture told the General Assembly.
From left: Chairperson of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), Malcolm Evans; the Chairperson of the UN Committee against Torture Claudio Grossman and Special Rapporteur Juan Méndez hold press conference.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Briefing General Assembly, UN rights expert urges dual fight against torture, corruption

21 October 2014
The incidences of torture and ill-treatment around the world have not been diminishing and the need for effective prevention is “as great as it ever has been,” a United Nations human rights expert said today as he urged Member States to do more to tackle domestic corruption in order to prevent such episodes of abuses.
Holding cell inside a maximum security detention centre.
Emma Reverter

‘Prohibition of torture is absolute,’ says Ban on International Day in support of victims

26 June 2014
Reiterating their pledge that every victim of torture will one day gain his or her right to acknowledgement, senior United Nations officials marked the International Day in Support of those victims by calling on the international community to strengthen efforts “to eradicate this heinous practice.”