Despite some progress in the fight against torture, ill-treatment is far from being eradicated and continues to be practised with impunity around the world, a senior official of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) criticized on Monday. “Torture and ill-treatment continue to be practised with impunity around the world, and victims of these abuses or their loved ones rarely get redress,” said Mahamane Cissé-Gouro, Director of the Division of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms at the opening of the seventy-sixth session of the Committee Against Torture.
According to the services of High Commissioner Volker Türk, the Committee’s recent concluding observations revealed problems of concern. These include the mistreatment and conditions of detention of persons deprived of liberty, but also the abuse of emergency powers and a ruthless response to criminal violence. Other areas of concern include the excessive use of force, particularly by law enforcement during demonstrations, the widespread use of conflict-related sexual violence, and frequent violations of the principle of non-refoulement. It is therefore necessary, recommended Mr. Cissé-Gouro, to revitalize the global consensus on human rights, with an emphasis on the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, prohibition enshrined in both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention against Torture.
In an opening statement of the session, Mr. Cissé-Gouro, said that to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the thirtieth anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Throughout the year, the Office of the High Commissioner will organize commemorative activities focused on universality, progress and engagement. In this context, the month of May will be devoted to the protection of civic space and human rights defenders.
It should be noted that until 12 May, the Committee against Torture must examine the reports submitted by Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg and Slovakia under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Treatment or Punishment, inhuman or degrading.
