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Summary Absolute Rights - The Prohibition Against Torture
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A look at Absolute Rights through a consideration of torture
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Absolute Rights: The Prohibition Against TortureReading
Chapter 9 – Integrity of the Person – N S Rodley – pages 174-84
Respect for Human Dignity:
Underlying principle of the International Bill of Human Rights
The prohibition of torture has a direct link to human dignity
The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment
in article 5 of its treaty which guarantees ‘respect of the dignity inherent of a human being’.
The Right to Integrity of the Person
Article 5 ACHPR guarantees right to humane treatment and stipulates that ‘every person has the right
to have his physical, mental, and moral integrity respected’.
Link between right to life and the integrity of person is established as is the link between right to
humane treatment and personal integrity
Right to be Free from Torture and Ill-Treatment
Article 5 UDHR – nobody to be subject to torture or to cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment
Found also in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in almost the exact same
wording
Following Amnesty International Report on Torture (1973) UN began setting standards and developing
an institutional response to the issue – led to establishment of the Committee against Torture under
the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(UNCAT)
Sources
Guaranteed by Article 7 and 10 ICCPR, Article 3 ECHR, UNCAT
Soft law – Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners (1955), Declaration on the Protection
of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (1975) etc
Legal Status
Prohibition on torture and treatment a part of customary international law. Encroached in absolute
terms (a jus cogens) and so therefore does not become permissible during national emergencies
Components
Treaty provisions on torture purposefully defined broadly to avoid overly technical or narrow approach
occurring
Definition of ‘torture’ and ‘cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment
Greek Case – on treatment of political opponents in 1967 – European Commission distinguished
between various types of ill-treatment. Found beating of the soles of the feet to amount to torture
Ireland v UK – UK treatment of suspected IRA members – serious physical beating was inhumane
treatment. 5 special interrogation techniques that are torture: wall standing in stress position.
Hooding, subjection to noise, sleep deprivation, food and drink deprivation.
ECHR decided in 1978 these techniques should be considered inhumane treatment rather than torture
following definitions in UN Declaration Against Torture (UNDAT).
UNDAT – Article 1(2) torture = aggravated and deliberate form of cruel, inhumane or degrading
treatment or punishment
UNCAT 1984 – Article 1 – torture = act which severe pain or suffering, physical or mental, is
intentionally inflicted upon a person with the intent of gaining from him or another, a confession or
information, or to punish for act committed or thought to have been committed, or for coercing them
or a 3rd party. Must be done with permission or knowledge of public official
Although the UNCAT definition only binding on states party to the statute has been used as a source
of definition of torture for many things
Three core elements to UNCAT – 1) severe mental or physical pain 2) inflicted for a purpose 3) official
consent
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