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The Special Rapporteur on Torture The Special Rapporteur was established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1985. Sir Nigel Rodley of the United Kingdom held the post of Special Rapporteur from 1993 - October 2001. A new Special Rapporteur will be designated shortly. About the mandate of the Special Rapporteur How to send a complaint to the Special Rapporteur Further information about the work of the Special Rapporteur About the mandate of the Special Rapporteur The work of the Special Rapporteur is aimed at preventing torture. His work is based on the prohibition of torture set out in the major international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both of which state that every person has the right to freedom from torture. There is also a specific international treaty on torture called the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The CAT sets out an absolute prohibition of torture and declares that the use of torture can never be justified including during war or public emergency. Torture is defined in the CAT as: "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions." To view the full text of the Convention against Torture click here The CAT and other international instrument describe the measures that states must take to ensure that no-one is subjected to torture. The Special Rapporteur can examine both allegations of torture brought to his attention and the question of whether states are meeting their obligations under international law to take action to prevent torture. How to send a complaint to the Special Rapporteur Complaints concerning allegations of torture can be sent by victims, their representatives or NGOs. There is no formal procedure for submitting a complaint to the Special Rapporteur. However, the Special Rapporteur has developed a model questionnaire aimed at helping you to include all of the information relevant to your complaint which you may use if you so wish. Click here for the model questionnaire in English Click here for the model questionnaire in Espagnol Click here for the model questionnaire in French If your complaint is urgent you should write "for urgent action" at the beginning of your complaint. Complaints should be sent to: The Special Rapporteur on Torture
Before submitting a complaint you should click on the following two links which contain important general information: Click here for information on the exhaustion of domestic remedies Click here for information on multiple applications Further information about the work of the Special Rapporteur For further information in English, Espagnol and Français, visit the webpage of the Special Rapporteur by clicking here The Special Rapporteur on Torture is one of a number of United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Special Representatives. To find out more about how Special Rapporteurs and Special Representatives carry out their work click here |
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