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 to the right. 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 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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.