torture

Special Rapporteur Juan Méndez

UN rights expert voices frustration at United States over access to detained soldier

11 April 2011
An independent United Nations human rights expert today voiced his deep disappointment and frustration that the United States has not allowed him unmonitored access to a soldier accused of being the source of large amounts of classified material given to the website Wikileaks.
Special Rapporteur Juan Méndez

Leading rights defender named as UN expert to combat torture

4 November 2010
Human rights defender Juan Méndez of Argentina has taken over as the new United Nations independent expert on the scourge, vowing to help victims of torture.
Claudio Grossman, Chair of the UN Committee against Torture

UN rights expert urge States to comply with Convention against Torture

19 October 2010
The Chairperson of the United Nations independent committee of experts against torture today urged States to recommit themselves to the values of the global treaty that prohibits the practice, which, he stressed, cannot be justified under any circumstances and has to be eradicated.
Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

UN experts urge US to ensure no Guantánamo detainees are forcibly returned

21 July 2010
While welcoming United States efforts to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility, two independent United Nations human rights experts have called on the Government to ensure that it does not forcibly transfer anyone to another State where the person could be subject to torture.
2003 poster of fugitives wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)

Torture remains prevalent in too many countries, UN warns

26 June 2010
Too many countries are still practising or tolerating “cruel, degrading and illegal” acts of torture, top United Nations officials said today as they pledged the UN's solidarity with the millions of torture victims worldwide.
Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak

Cuban visit will not take place, says UN expert on torture as he voices frustration

9 June 2010
The United Nations independent expert on torture said today he was deeply disappointed that he will not be able to visit Cuba to carry out a fact-finding mission this year because the country’s authorities declined to consent to any of the dates he had proposed for the mission.

Torture still rife 25 years after adoption of treaty banning it, UN experts warn

10 December 2009
Although 146 States of the 192 Member States of the United Nations ratified or acceded to the international convention outlawing torture, the practice is still rife worldwide 25 years after the treaty’s adoption, the UN Committee against Torture warned today.

Detention conditions for a majority of prisoners deplorable – UN human rights expert

20 October 2009
A United Nations human rights expert today called for the adoption of a global convention to protect the rights of people in detention, warning that far too many States are failing to meet their obligations to respect the basic dignity of prisoners.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay

UN human rights chief hails Swiss approval of torture pact, enabling greater vigilance

25 September 2009
The top United Nations human rights official today welcomed a milestone on the road to end torture after Switzerland became the 50th State to ratify a key global treaty into law.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay

UN human rights chief welcomes US investigation into alleged CIA abuses

25 August 2009
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has welcomed the decision by the United States Attorney-General to appoint a special prosecutor to look into whether Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers and contractors broke US laws while conducting interrogations outside the US, including at Guantanamo Bay.