torture

Singers wearing hats advocating “No Torture” line up before performing at a Human Rights Day event outside of Mogadishu Central Prison in Somalia on 10 December 2013.
UN Photo/Tobin Jones

‘Actions by States are increasingly transnational,’ UN expert warns, stressing prohibition against torture

20 October 2015
The UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Méndez today urged governments across the world not to allow a vacuum of human rights protection even when they act beyond their borders, saying “torture is torture here, there and everywhere.”
Relatives of missing persons from Sri Lanka’s 26-year long civil war hold their pictures during a meeting in the capital Colombo.
IRIN/Amantha Perera

War crimes court urged for Sri Lanka

16 September 2015
General News

Tens of thousands of people suffered human rights violations including torture and sexual abuse in Sri Lanka during a almost a decade of civil conflict, according to a long-awaited UN report.

Audio -
The torture panel presents its finding to the Press at the UN in Geneva.
UN

Torture experts call for action on Iraqi detainees "held for years”

14 August 2015
General News

Iraqi authorities faced pressure to take a clear stance against torture on Friday as a UN rights committee called for them to close secret detention centres.

Audio -
Singers wearing hats advocating “No Torture” line up before performing at a Human Rights Day event outside of Mogadishu Central Prison in Somalia on 10 December 2013.
UN Photo/Tobin Jones

On International Day, UN chief urges concrete support for victims of torture

26 June 2015
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has renewed his call for Member States to repudiate the use of torture amid the international community’s ongoing fight against terrorism and provide victims of the inhumane practice with support critical in helping them rebuild their lives.
Photo: UNHCR/V. Tan
UNHCR/V. Tan

UN expert calls for adoption of minimum set of fundamental human rights for detainees

18 May 2015
The top United Nations human rights expert on torture today called for the adoption of the revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which are being considered this week by the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna.
Source: OHCHR

During Azerbaijan visit, UN experts welcome 'unhindered access' to places of detention

24 April 2015
A United Nations human rights body has welcomed the decision by the Government of Azerbaijan to allow it “unhindered access” to places of detention across the Central Asian country while also urging authorities to do more to protect the rights of people in custody.