Torture is not only immoral and illegal, it is also counterproductive to effective intelligence gathering, an independent international security consultant has said.

Torture, rape, unlawful killings, arrests and detentions “have become the norm” in South Sudan, as the human rights situation continues to deteriorate.

Many Burundians live in fear because of “widespread repression and increasing intimidation by the ruling party’s youth militia, the Imbonerakure”, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Conflict Prevention told the Security Council

The death has been announced of pioneering anti-torture human rights expert Sir Nigel Rodley; he was 75.

Tributes have been paid to Sir Nigel from all around the world, not least for his major contribution to drafting international law on torture and ill-treatment in all its forms.