CHRI'S oral statement in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on torture at the 46th Regular UNHRC Session (Agenda Item 3)

10 March 2021, Geneva: CHRI has expressed concerns on the findings of the annual report the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment at the ongoing 46th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. 

In  a video intervention in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, Dr. Nils Melzer, CHRI said that in the absence of meaningful domestic efforts and cooperation, many States have in fact failed to comply with their own voluntary pledges and standing invitations to the mandate holders. 

In the statement, delivered by Ms. Aditi Patil, CHRI shared concerns raised in the findings of the annual report -- that 90 per cent responses by States to the communications transmitted during the reporting period did not meet the standard of "full cooperation" --  indicative of an alarming trend. The statement said, "it is disconcerting that the peremptory norm of torture prohibition still needs to be spelled out - as being beyond treaty obligations, admitting no justifications and including the duty to prevent, investigate, prosecute and eradicate the practice of torture." CHRI also thanked the Special Rapporteur for addressing the issue of semantic manipulations such as "lawful sanctions" which have been increasingly used to legitimise torture and ill-treatment.

CHRI was among the ten civil society organisations that delivered an oral statement in the interactive dialogue, following the presentation by the Special Rapporteur and other member and observer States.

You can read the statement here and watch the video below: