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UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

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UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

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  1. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture The International Struggle against Torture &UN Special Rapporteur on TortureManfred NowakProfessor for International Human Rights Protection, University of ViennaDirector, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, ViennaUN Special Rapporteur on TortureVienna, 17 March 2009Vienna, 1 April 2009

  2. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture OVERVIEW 1. Definition of Torture 2. Development of International Legal Instruments against Torture 3. Prohibition of Torture as an absolute and non-derogable Right 4. Challenge September 11 - A Paradigm Shift? 5. Challenging the Prohibition of Torture and CIDT by Narrowing the Definition 6. The “Ticking Bomb Scenario” 7. Outsourcing of Torture 8. Non-Refoulement Principle & Diplomatic Assurances 9. Secret Places of Detention & CIA Rendition Programmes 10. “Tainted Fruits of the Poisonous Tree”-Theory 11. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 12. Fact-Finding Missions 13. Lessons Learned 14. Questions & Answers

  3. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 1. DEFINITION OF TORTURE (ART. 1 CAT)a) Causing of severe physical and/or mental pain or sufferingb) State responsibilityc) Intention; applied to achieve a certain purpose (confession, information, intimidation, discrimination…) d) Powerlessness, defenselessness of the victim, which is completely in the torturer’s power (especially during detention)→ direct attack on the victim’s dignity and personal integrity→ specific form of violence→ examples: „Palestinian Hanging” Abu-Ghraib (prisoner at dog leash)

  4. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 1. PROHIBITION OF TORTURE AS AN ABSOLUTE AND NON-DEROGABLE RIGHT IN INTERNATIONAL LAWa) Absolute vs. Relative Rightse.g. freedom of expression, right to life, prohibition of torture and slavery;b) Non-derogable vs. Other Rights e.g. personal liberty, right to life (Art. 15 ECHR), prohibition of torture, prohibition of retro-activity of penal laws;c) Torture vs. Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CIDT)“relativity” of CIDT (principle of proportionality)d) Reasons for the special Protection of the Prohibition of Torture as Ius CogensMiddle Ages → gradual elimination from criminal law National Socialism → absolute prohibitionChile → special protection mechanisms (criminal law, prevention, victim protection, fact finding) Bosnia → international criminal tribunals, systematic torture as a crime against humanity;

  5. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST TORTURE • After World War II: Absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment in international human rights law • Article 5 UDHR 1948 • Article 3 ECHR 1950 • Article 7 CCPR 1966 • Article 5 ACHR 1969 • 1970s: • Systematic practice of torture in many parts of the world, in particular during the military dictatorships in Latin America.Campaign against Torture by Amnesty International and other NGOs

  6. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST TORTURE (cont.) • → Impunity • a) Declaration against Torture 1975 • b) Convention against Torture (CAT) 1984 • Article 4: Obligation to criminalize torture • Article 5-9: Territorial, personal and universal jurisdiction • c) Rome Statute of an International Criminal Court 1998 • Systematic or widespread practice of torture as crime against humanity

  7. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture → 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST TORTURE (cont.)  Rights of victims a) Right to a remedy Art 13 CAT investigation by competent authorities (not necessarily criminal justice) “Police – police” b) Right to reparation Art 14 CAT rehabilitation satisfaction compensation  Directed against States and individual perpetrators (universal civil jurisdiction)

  8. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST TORTURE (cont.) • → Prevention • a) Convention against Torture 1984 • Article 3: non-refoulement • Article 10: training of law enforcement personnel • Article 11: modernization of interrogation techniques • Article 15: non-applicability of information extracted by torture • b) Preventive visits to places of detention • ICRC • Jean-Jacques Gautier • Draft Costa Rica Protocol 1980 • European Convention for the Prevention of Torture 1987 • OPCAT 2002

  9. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST TORTURE (cont.) • → Strengthening of international monitoring • a) UN Committee against Torture monitoring States parties to CAT: • since 1987 • State reporting procedure • Inter-State complaints procedure • Individual complaints procedure • Inquiry procedure • b) UN Special Rapporteur against Torture monitoring all States: • since 1985 • Individual communications & Fact finding missions • Reporting and awareness raising • c) UN Sub-Committee on Prevention: since 2006

  10. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • 2. Added value of OPCAT (cont.) • Deterrent effect of unannounced visits to places of detention • Combination of UN Sub-Committee on Prevention and National Preventive Mechanism • Making places of detention transparent • Cooperation between NPM and prison authorities • Reporting on visits • Standardisation of minimum conditions of humane detention

  11. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 3. THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE • UN Special Procedure • Serve in their individual capacity • Independent, impartial Experts • Tasks • Fact Finding Missions (see next slide) • Communications: Urgent Appeals & Letters of Allegations • Reports to UN General Assembly & Human Rights Council • Promotion of OPCAT and other preventive mechanisms • Created by UN Commission on Human Rights (Res 1985/33) • Appointed by Commission on Human Rights/Human Rights Council • 3 years with one possible renewal

  12. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • 4. FACT-FINDING MISSIONS • Invitation of the State • Terms of Reference • Freedom of movement • Freedom of inquiry • Access to all places of detention • Contacts with all branches of government; • Contacts with representatives of NGOs, other private institutions and the media; • Confidential and unsupervised contact • Full access to all documentary material • Assurance by the Government against reprisals • Appropriate security arrangements

  13. Severnaya Zemlya Ellesmere Island Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean Franz Josef Land New Siberian Islands Greenland (Den.) Svalbard (Nor.) Banks Island Novaya Zemlya Jan Mayen (Nor.) Wrangel Island Victoria Island Baffin Island Norway Faroe Is. (Den.) U.S.A. Finland Iceland Russia 60° Estonia Sweden United Kingdom Canada Latvia Den. Aleutian Islands (USA) Lithuania Ireland Belarus Neth. Poland Germany Bel. Ukraine Island of Newfoundland Czech. Kuril Islands Slovak. Kazakhstan Aus. Moldova Mongolia Hung. France Switz. Slov. Romania Cro. Yugo. Bos. Uzbekistan North Atlantic Ocean Georgia Bulgaria Italy Mac. Kyrgyzstan USA Armenia Azerbaijan Albania N. Korea Spain Turkmenistan Portugal Turkey Greece Tajikistan Japan S. Korea North Pacific Ocean North Pacific Ocean Syria Cyp. China Afghanistan Tunisia Leb. Iran Iraq Morocco Israel Canary Islands (Sp.) Jordan Nepal Kuwait Pakistan Algeria Bhu. Libya Egypt The Bahamas Qatar Western Sahara (Mor.) Bang. Mexico Taiwan Cuba Hawaiian Islands Saudi Arabia U. A. E. Myanmar (Burma) India Dominican Republic Oman Laos Mauritania Mali U. S. A. Jam. Niger Belize Eritrea Haiti Yemen Sudan Puerto Rico (US) Dominica Thailand Philippines Senegal Honduras Chad Vietnam Guatemala Burkina Faso The Gambia Barbados Nicaragua El Salvador Cambodia Andaman Islands (India) Djibouti Guinea-Bissau Guinea Benin Marshall Islands Trinidad and Tobago Federated States of Micronesia Costa Rica Côte D’Ivoire Sri Lanka Nigeria Guyana Ethiopia Venezuela Sierra Leone Brunei C. A. R. Guam (USA) Panama Suriname Maldives Liberia Cameroon French Guiana (Fr.) Somalia Malaysia Togo Ghana Colombia Uganda Eq. Guinea Singapore Kenya Gabon Rwanda Kiribati Ecuador Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) Indonesia Sao Tome & Principe Zaire Burundi Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Congo Tanzania Seychelles Malawi Brazil Angola Peru Mozambique Zambia Bolivia Madagascar Zimbabwe Fiji Namibia French Polynesia (Fr.) New Caledonia Botswana Indian Ocean Mauritius Paraguay Australia Swaziland South Africa Lesotho Uruguay South Atlantic Ocean South Pacific Ocean Chile Argentina New Zealand Tasmania Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (adm. by UK, claimed by Argentina) Îles Crozet (France) South Georgia (adm. by UK, claimed by Argentina) Antarctica 12. FACT-FINDING MISSIONS (cont.) UN Special Rapporteur on Torture RussiaOct. 06 MoldovaJuly. 08 DenmarkMay 08 MongoliaJune 05 Georgia Feb. 05 Jordan June 06 GuantanamoFeb. 2006 ChinaNov. 05 TogoApril 07 NepalSep. 05 Nigeria March 07 Paraguay Oct. 06 IndonesiaNov. 07 Sri Lanka Oct. 07 Equatorial Guinea Nov 08 SudanDec. 2007

  14. 13. LESSONS LEARNED UN Special Rapporteur on Torture • Team composition • Human Rights Experts • Forensic Expert • Interpreters (local dialects?!) • Gender Balance • Importance of forensic medical expertise • Forensic doctor as team member • Own contribution during Government debriefing • Usage of photos without disclosing victim’s identity • Importance of cooperating with the NGO sector • Most important source of information • Huge diversity

  15. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 13. LESSONS LEARNED (cont.) • Access to the facility • Lack of information or malevolent delay • Courtesy vs. Effectiveness • Letter of Authorization • Phone number of superior (e.g. Minister of Interior) • Information leaflet • Schedule of Visits to Places of Detention • Prison Register and Documents • Disciplinary Cells • Protection of victims and witnesses • First Prisons, then Police Stations • Use of technology in detention facilities • Audio & video recording devices • High resolution photo cameras (name tags, blackboards…)

  16. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 13. LESSONS LEARNED (cont.) • Interviewing • Selection of place for interview • Conduct of interview • Compassionate interviewing vs. time constraints • Confidentiality v. reporting => Risks for detainees • Informed consent • Follow-up possible? • Be prepared for “smoking guns” • How to react when discovering ongoing torture? • Ensure proper Follow-up • Cultural/social diversity • “What’s the UN?” “UN Special Rapporteur?” • Same words - different meaning, e.g. “detainee” • Adapt language to local particularities • Different Understanding of Justice => how far to get involved into a case?

  17. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Question & Answers Discussion

  18. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, OHCHR/Geneva:http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/torture/rapporteur/ Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Vienna:http://univie.ac.at/bim

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