The International Struggle against Torture &UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Manfred NowakProfessor for International Human Rights Protection, University of ViennaDirector, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, ViennaUN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Vienna, 17 March 2009Vienna, 1 April 2009
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
OVERVIEW
1. Definition of Torture2. Development of International Legal Instruments against Torture3. 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 Definition6. The “Ticking Bomb Scenario”7. Outsourcing of Torture8. Non-Refoulement Principle & Diplomatic Assurances9. Secret Places of Detention & CIA Rendition Programmes10. “Tainted Fruits of the Poisonous Tree”-Theory
11. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture12. Fact-Finding Missions13. Lessons Learned14. Questions & Answers
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
1. DEFINITION OF TORTURE (ART. 1 CAT)
a) Causing of severe physical and/or mental pain or suffering
b) State responsibility
c) 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)
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
1. PROHIBITION OF TORTURE AS AN ABSOLUTE AND NON-DEROGABLE RIGHT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
a) Absolute vs. Relative Rights e.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 lawNational Socialism → absolute prohibitionChile → special protection mechanisms (criminal law, prevention, victim protection, fact finding)Bosnia → international criminal tribunals, systematic torture as a crime against humanity;
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
a) Article 5 UDHR 1948b) Article 3 ECHR 1950c) Article 7 CCPR 1966d) 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
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) 1984Article 4: Obligation to criminalize tortureArticle 5-9: Territorial, personal and universal jurisdiction
c) Rome Statute of an International Criminal Court 1998Systematic or widespread practice of torture as crime against humanity
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)
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST TORTURE (cont.)
→ Prevention
a) Convention against Torture 1984Article 3: non-refoulementArticle 10: training of law enforcement personnelArticle 11: modernization of interrogation techniquesArticle 15: non-applicability of information extracted by torture
b) Preventive visits to places of detentionICRCJean-Jacques GautierDraft Costa Rica Protocol 1980European Convention for the Prevention of Torture 1987OPCAT 2002
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 1987State reporting procedureInter-State complaints procedureIndividual complaints procedureInquiry procedure
b) UN Special Rapporteur against Torture monitoring all States: since 1985Individual communications & Fact finding missionsReporting and awareness raising
c) UN Sub-Committee on Prevention: since 2006
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. ADDED VALUE OF OPCAT (cont.)
a) Deterrent effect of unannounced visits to places of detention
b) Combination of UN Sub-Committee on Prevention
and National Preventive Mechanism
c) Making places of detention transparent
d) Cooperation between NPM and prison authorities
e) Reporting on visits
f) Standardisation of minimum conditions of humane detention
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
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
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
12. FACT-FINDING MISSIONS (cont.)
South Atlantic Ocean South Pacific Ocean
North Pacific Ocean
North Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean
North Pacific Ocean
USA
U.S.A.
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
U. S. A.
French Polynesia (Fr.)
Argentina
Uruguay
Paraguay
Chile
Bolivia
Peru
Ecuador
Colombia
Venezuela
French Guiana (Fr.) Suriname
Guyana
The Bahamas
Cuba Dominican Republic
Panama Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Honduras Guatemala
El Salvador
Trinidad and Tobago
Jam. Haiti Puerto Rico (US)
Greenland (Den.)
Iceland
Madagascar
South Africa Lesotho
Swaziland
Mozambique
Tanzania
Botswana Namibia Zimbabwe
Angola
Zaire
Zambia
Malawi
Burundi
Kenya Rwanda
Uganda
Congo
Gabon
Somalia
Ethiopia
Sudan
Djibouti
Belize
Egypt Libya
Chad
Niger
Algeria
Mali
Tunisia
Nigeria
Cameroon C. A. R.
Benin
Togo Ghana
Burkina Faso Barbados
Dominica
Côte D’Ivoire
Liberia
Sierra Leone
Guinea Guinea-Bissau
Senegal The Gambia
Mauritania
Western Sahara (Mor.)
Morocco
Finland
Norway
Sweden Estonia Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Romania
Bulgaria
Turkey Greece
Czech.
Hung.
Italy Albania
Portugal
France
Spain
Aus. Switz.
United Kingdom
Ireland
Den.
Germany Neth.
Bel.
Cyp.
Yemen
Oman
Saudi Arabia U. A. E.
Qatar
Iran Iraq
Syria
Jordan
Israel Leb. China
Mongolia
Russia
Afghanistan
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka Maldives
Nepal Bhu.
Myanmar (Burma) Bang.
Andaman Islands (India)
Thailand
Indonesia
Malaysia
Brunei
Philippines
Taiwan
Cambodia
Vietnam
Laos
Australia
Papua New Guinea
New Zealand
Fiji
New Caledonia
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Marshall Islands Federated States of Micronesia
Guam (USA)
Japan
N. Korea
S. Korea
Kuril Islands
Wrangel Island
Aleutian Islands (USA)
New Siberian Islands
Severnaya Zemlya
Novaya Zemlya
Franz Josef Land Svalbard (Nor.)
Jan Mayen (Nor.) Banks Island
Victoria Island Baffin Island
Ellesmere Island
Island of Newfoundland
Antarctica
Îles Crozet (France)
Tasmania
South Georgia (adm. by UK, claimed by Argentina)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (adm. by UK, claimed by Argentina)
Kuwait Canary Islands (Sp.)
Sao Tome & Principe
Singapore Eq. Guinea
Faroe Is. (Den.)
Kazakhstan
Belarus
Ukraine
Moldova
Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan
Yugo.
Mac.
Slov. Cro.
Bos.
Slovak.
Eritrea
Tajikistan
Hawaiian Islands
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Mauritius
Seychelles
60°
Paraguay Oct. 06
Nigeria March 07
China Nov. 05
Sri Lanka Oct. 07
Indonesia Nov. 07
Jordan June 06
TogoApril 07
GuantanamoFeb. 2006
GeorgiaFeb. 05
RussiaOct. 06
NepalSep. 05
MongoliaJune 05
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
DenmarkMay 08
MoldovaJuly. 08
SudanDec. 2007
Equatorial Guinea
Nov 08
13. LESSONS LEARNED
• 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
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…)
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?
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
UN Special Rapporteur on TortureUN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Question & Answers
Discussion
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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