Featured
-
Two New OPCAT RatificationsRead More...
On 20 July, both Ecuador and Togo ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture bringing the total number of ratifications to 54.
The APT was recently in Togo, organising a timely seminar to discuss OPCAT implementation and the most appropriate...
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
In the News
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Prisoners Deserve a HearingPrisoners Deserve a Hearing Before Being Sent to Countries That Torture |
Control Orders RulingAppeal court upholds judgment that quashed control orders against three men. A court of appeal ruling today cleared the way for two international terrorism suspects to claim damages for having control orders wrongly imposed on them for three and a half years. The judgment also raises the prospect that a third suspect will not be prosecuted for breaching the terms of his control order, which has also been quashed. |
Algeria Court Indicts DetaineeAlgeria court indicts ex-Guantanamo detainee |
Egyptian Trial BeginsEgypt begins trial of two policemen in torture case. |
Torture Chief Found GuiltyFormer Khmer Rouge prison official Duch is found guilty of crimes against humanity by Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes tribunal. Duch, 67, whose full name is Kaing Guek Eav, was sentenced to 35 years in prison. |
Kenya Awards CompensationKenya court awards compensation to Nyayo torture victims. Kenya's High Court ruled Wednesday that Kenyan authorities had violated the fundamental rights of 21 former political prisoners subjected to torture, awarding them Ksh 40 million (USD $500,000) in compensation. The former prisoners were held during the 1980s by the government of former Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi, who ruled from 1978-2002, and subjected to torture in the Nyayo torture chambers. |
Right to InformationEuropean Commission: Proposal on the right to information in criminal proceedings The European Commission has proposed new rules to ensure that EU countries will inform anyone suspected or accused of a criminal offence of their rights in a language they understand. Anyone arrested – or the subject of a European Arrest Warrant – will have to be informed in writing with a Letter of Rights listing their basic rights during criminal proceedings.
|
Fate of Guantánamo detaineesThe UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture, Manfred Nowak, and on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, Martin Scheinin, called on the Obama administration to ensure that it does not forcibly transfer anyone to another State where the person could be subject to torture. |
Torture of Ethnic UzbeksKyrgyz forces arrest and torture ethnic Uzbeks - U.N. |
Non-refoulementThe European Court repeats the importance on the principle of non-refoulement. In a judgment handed down today (case of A. v. The Netherlands), the European Court of Human Rights has reiterated that the prohibition of ill-treatment under Article 3 was absolute, that is to say it made no provision for exception. It further noted that it was not possible to weigh the risk of ill-treatment against the reasons put forward for the expulsion in order to determine whether the responsibility of a State was engaged under Article 3. |
New Partnerships
Publication of the proceedings of the November 2009 APT-CPT conference 'New Partnerships for the Prevention of Torture in Europe' which gathered for the first time representatives from the CPT, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), European National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) and civil society. PDF
New OPCAT Briefing
The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture: Guidance on the selection of candidates and the election of members
OPCAT Country Status
The OPCAT Country Status includes information on ratification processes and national implementation (e.g NPMs) in States Parties and Signatories. It also contains updated information on States considering the signature, ratification or accession of the OPCAT. PDF
-
Compilation of Torture Laws
This tool is a compilation of existing national laws relevant to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). It focuses on the criminalisation of torture under national laws of States parties to the UNCAT as well as other relevant provisions.
Accessing the country files:
All files of the States parties to the UNCAT are in pdf format and may be accessed from the drop-down list below. You may easily navigate in the country files by clicking on the bookmark that will direct you to the relevant section of the document.
Content of the country files:
The country files are composed of:
• A fact sheet providing an overview of the laws and
• Relevant provisions of the laws in the original language version as well as an English translation, if available.
The country files are not meant to evaluate the compliance of these laws with the UNCAT, nor their effectiveness in practice.The APT would like to thank all those who have contributed to the development of this tool, including by providing laws in the original language version and/or translations.
While doing its utmost to update the information contained herein, the APT does not guarantee that this data constitutes the latest applicable laws and/or that it represents the entire national legal framework related to torture. The APT therefore welcomes any contribution or comment to this ongoing public service. Please contact us at
Disclaimer/Non-liability clause:
The material provided herein, including the translations and the laws in the original language version, is designed for information purposes only and may contain errors. The contents and use of this material, including links, do not imply any responsibility from the part of the APT.
Publications
Subscribe to our Newsletters
APT Vacancies
The APT currently has a vacancy for a: