UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

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


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


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)


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;


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


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


→ 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)



→ 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



→ 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


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



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


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


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…)


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 TortureUN Special Rapporteur on Torture

Question & Answers

Discussion


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