Knowledge (XXG)

Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture

Source 📝

235:
d'Ivoire, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
202:. It envisaged the establishment of a worldwide system of inspection of places of detention, which later took the form of an Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984). For a long time, however, the necessary support for such an optional protocol was not forthcoming. As a consequence, the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) had at its disposal only relatively weak instruments: it could analyse and discuss the self-reports of the respective governments and create the institution of a 43: 218:
has demonstrated that regular visits, reports and recommendations to the governments as well as the publication of these reports and the governments' reactions the viability of this model. This in turn led to a breakthrough within the United Nations: OPCAT was created and opened for signatures on 18
234:
As of June 2024, 94 states have ratified the protocol: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte
889: 1415: 1075: 252: 796: 901: 786: 238:
A further 11 states have signed but not ratified the protocol: Angola, Belgium, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ireland, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Venezuela, and Zambia.
206:
on Torture. But neither CAT nor its Special Rapporteur had the power to visit countries, let alone inspect prisons, without the respective government's permission. In 1987, the
17: 882: 1045: 211: 1425: 1080: 1430: 965: 855: 1325: 1010: 817: 186:
in New York on 18 December 2002, and it entered into force on 22 June 2006. As of June 2024, the Protocol has 94 parties and 11 additional signatories.
860: 195: 172: 1420: 1400: 1070: 894: 215: 176: 139: 1115: 73: 791: 175:. It establishes an international inspection system for places of detention modeled on the system that has existed in Europe since 1987 (the 296: 1375: 1295: 1250: 384: 960: 906: 877: 723: 1175: 1195: 1025: 950: 733: 703: 421: 297:"Parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment" 1370: 1355: 1255: 955: 1240: 1230: 1210: 1190: 1185: 1160: 1155: 1055: 1040: 990: 781: 556: 183: 1410: 1330: 1260: 1215: 1180: 1135: 975: 945: 378: 358: 339: 320: 1350: 1345: 1305: 1285: 1225: 1140: 1035: 1020: 728: 257: 1405: 1395: 1385: 1335: 1320: 1310: 1270: 1235: 1170: 1165: 1145: 1120: 1100: 1095: 1090: 1085: 1060: 1030: 1005: 985: 980: 970: 847: 1390: 1365: 1340: 1315: 1300: 1280: 1275: 1220: 1130: 1105: 1065: 1015: 995: 194:
The idea for this scheme of torture prevention goes back to the Swiss Committee for the Prevention of Torture (today
1360: 1265: 1245: 1205: 1150: 1125: 1110: 1050: 1000: 916: 832: 438: 1380: 1290: 1200: 865: 776: 157:
Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
36:
Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
18:
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
611: 708: 489: 203: 414: 827: 693: 566: 543: 745: 641: 606: 528: 523: 755: 713: 591: 220: 890:
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
646: 636: 812: 718: 698: 671: 651: 601: 479: 247: 207: 750: 683: 661: 656: 596: 461: 407: 822: 688: 666: 586: 571: 518: 446: 362: 343: 324: 226:
After ratification by 20 states, the Optional Protocol came into force on 22 June 2006.
924: 581: 551: 509: 504: 494: 474: 939: 837: 738: 616: 561: 533: 451: 771: 499: 484: 469: 355: 336: 317: 676: 42: 576: 430: 199: 168: 381:— Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 513: 1416:
Treaties adopted by United Nations General Assembly resolutions
403: 27:
2002 treaty supplementing the UN Convention Against Torture
399: 253:
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
210:
realized the original idea on a regional level with its
902:
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture
394: 149:
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
389: 915: 846: 805: 797:
Torture during the Bahraini uprising (2011–present)
764: 629: 542: 460: 437: 198:, APT), founded in 1977 by Jean-Jacques Gautier in 161:
Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture
145: 135: 127: 119: 111: 103: 95: 87: 79: 69: 35: 31:
Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture
212:European Convention for the Prevention of Torture 1076:Treaties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 216:European Committee for the Prevention of Torture 415: 327:, Article 28. Retrieved on 30 December 2008. 8: 856:Exclusion of evidence obtained under torture 365:, Article 37. Retrieved on 30 December 2008. 346:, Article 27. Retrieved on 30 December 2008. 30: 818:Effectiveness of torture for interrogation 457: 422: 408: 400: 29: 861:United Nations Convention against Torture 390:Association for the Prevention of Torture 196:Association for the Prevention of Torture 173:United Nations Convention Against Torture 1046:Treaties of the Central African Republic 895:Committee for the Prevention of Torture 269: 177:Committee for the Prevention of Torture 1426:Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands 291: 289: 287: 285: 283: 281: 279: 277: 275: 273: 1081:Treaties of the Republic of the Congo 792:Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse 7: 1431:Treaties extended to the Isle of Man 966:Treaties entered into force in 2006 907:American Convention on Human Rights 878:European Convention on Human Rights 1326:Treaties of the State of Palestine 1011:Treaties of Bosnia and Herzegovina 299:. United Nations Treaty Collection 25: 734:Enhanced interrogation techniques 395:The Center for Victims of Torture 823:Involvement of medical personnel 41: 782:Torture during the Algerian War 184:United Nations General Assembly 1421:Treaties extended to Greenland 1401:Treaties of the United Kingdom 1071:Treaties of the Czech Republic 1: 1116:Treaties of Georgia (country) 258:Center for Victims of Torture 182:The OPCAT was adopted by the 171:that supplements to the 1984 57: Signed but not ratified 557:Biderman's Chart of Coercion 1376:Treaties of North Macedonia 1296:Treaties of the Philippines 1251:Treaties of the Netherlands 1447: 961:Treaties concluded in 2002 833:Ticking time bomb scenario 1176:Treaties of Liechtenstein 866:Committee Against Torture 777:Use of torture since 1948 51: Ratified or acceded 40: 1196:Treaties of the Maldives 1026:Treaties of Burkina Faso 951:Human rights instruments 612:Welcome parade (torture) 1371:Treaties of Switzerland 1356:Treaties of South Sudan 1256:Treaties of New Zealand 956:United Nations treaties 490:Pharmacological torture 159:(commonly known as the 74:Human rights convention 1241:Treaties of Mozambique 1231:Treaties of Montenegro 1211:Treaties of Mauritania 1191:Treaties of Madagascar 1186:Treaties of Luxembourg 1161:Treaties of Kyrgyzstan 1156:Treaties of Kazakhstan 1056:Treaties of Costa Rica 1041:Treaties of Cape Verde 991:Treaties of Azerbaijan 1411:2002 in New York City 1331:Treaties of Sri Lanka 1261:Treaties of Nicaragua 1216:Treaties of Mauritius 1181:Treaties of Lithuania 1136:Treaties of Guatemala 976:Treaties of Argentina 946:Anti-torture treaties 828:Psychology of torture 567:Chinese water torture 544:Psychological torture 219:December 2002 by the 214:. On this basis, the 1351:Treaties of Slovenia 1346:Treaties of Slovakia 1306:Treaties of Portugal 1286:Treaties of Paraguay 1226:Treaties of Mongolia 1141:Treaties of Honduras 1036:Treaties of Cambodia 1021:Treaties of Bulgaria 724:United Arab Emirates 607:Solitary confinement 529:Water cure (torture) 524:Thumbscrew (torture) 379:Text of the protocol 140:UN Secretary-General 1406:Treaties of Uruguay 1396:Treaties of Ukraine 1386:Treaties of Tunisia 1336:Treaties of Senegal 1321:Treaties of Moldova 1311:Treaties of Romania 1271:Treaties of Nigeria 1236:Treaties of Morocco 1171:Treaties of Liberia 1166:Treaties of Lebanon 1146:Treaties of Hungary 1121:Treaties of Germany 1101:Treaties of Finland 1096:Treaties of Estonia 1091:Treaties of Ecuador 1086:Treaties of Denmark 1061:Treaties of Croatia 1031:Treaties of Burundi 1006:Treaties of Bolivia 986:Treaties of Austria 981:Treaties of Armenia 971:Treaties of Albania 787:Marcos dictatorship 592:Sensory deprivation 230:Ratification status 221:UN General Assembly 32: 1391:Treaties of Turkey 1366:Treaties of Sweden 1341:Treaties of Serbia 1316:Treaties of Rwanda 1301:Treaties of Poland 1281:Treaties of Panama 1276:Treaties of Norway 1221:Treaties of Mexico 1131:Treaties of Greece 1106:Treaties of France 1066:Treaties of Cyprus 1016:Treaties of Brazil 996:Treaties of Belize 361:2008-05-05 at the 342:2008-05-05 at the 323:2008-05-05 at the 204:Special Rapporteur 1361:Treaties of Spain 1266:Treaties of Niger 1246:Treaties of Nauru 1206:Treaties of Malta 1151:Treaties of Italy 1126:Treaties of Ghana 1111:Treaties of Gabon 1051:Treaties of Chile 1001:Treaties of Benin 933: 932: 871:Optional Protocol 848:International law 813:Ethics of torture 625: 624: 602:Sleep deprivation 248:Istanbul Protocol 208:Council of Europe 153: 152: 63: Non-parties 16:(Redirected from 1438: 1381:Treaties of Togo 1291:Treaties of Peru 1201:Treaties of Mali 597:Sensory overload 462:Physical torture 458: 424: 417: 410: 401: 366: 353: 347: 334: 328: 315: 309: 308: 306: 304: 293: 115:20 ratifications 91:18 December 2002 83:18 December 2002 62: 56: 50: 45: 33: 21: 1446: 1445: 1441: 1440: 1439: 1437: 1436: 1435: 936: 935: 934: 929: 911: 842: 801: 760: 621: 587:Musical torture 572:Five techniques 538: 519:Stress position 456: 447:Torture chamber 433: 428: 385:List of parties 375: 370: 369: 363:Wayback Machine 354: 350: 344:Wayback Machine 335: 331: 325:Wayback Machine 316: 312: 302: 300: 295: 294: 271: 266: 244: 232: 192: 65: 64: 60: 58: 54: 52: 48: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1444: 1442: 1434: 1433: 1428: 1423: 1418: 1413: 1408: 1403: 1398: 1393: 1388: 1383: 1378: 1373: 1368: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1343: 1338: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1303: 1298: 1293: 1288: 1283: 1278: 1273: 1268: 1263: 1258: 1253: 1248: 1243: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1203: 1198: 1193: 1188: 1183: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1133: 1128: 1123: 1118: 1113: 1108: 1103: 1098: 1093: 1088: 1083: 1078: 1073: 1068: 1063: 1058: 1053: 1048: 1043: 1038: 1033: 1028: 1023: 1018: 1013: 1008: 1003: 998: 993: 988: 983: 978: 973: 968: 963: 958: 953: 948: 938: 937: 931: 930: 928: 927: 925:Torture museum 921: 919: 913: 912: 910: 909: 904: 899: 898: 897: 887: 886: 885: 875: 874: 873: 868: 858: 852: 850: 844: 843: 841: 840: 835: 830: 825: 820: 815: 809: 807: 803: 802: 800: 799: 794: 789: 784: 779: 774: 768: 766: 762: 761: 759: 758: 753: 748: 743: 742: 741: 736: 726: 721: 716: 711: 706: 701: 696: 691: 686: 681: 680: 679: 669: 664: 659: 654: 649: 644: 639: 633: 631: 627: 626: 623: 622: 620: 619: 614: 609: 604: 599: 594: 589: 584: 582:Mock execution 579: 574: 569: 564: 559: 554: 552:Bamboo torture 548: 546: 540: 539: 537: 536: 531: 526: 521: 516: 510:Sexual assault 507: 505:Rope (torture) 502: 497: 495:Rack (torture) 492: 487: 482: 477: 475:Boot (torture) 472: 466: 464: 455: 454: 449: 443: 441: 435: 434: 429: 427: 426: 419: 412: 404: 398: 397: 392: 387: 382: 374: 373:External links 371: 368: 367: 348: 329: 310: 268: 267: 265: 262: 261: 260: 255: 250: 243: 240: 231: 228: 191: 188: 151: 150: 147: 143: 142: 137: 133: 132: 129: 125: 124: 121: 117: 116: 113: 109: 108: 105: 101: 100: 97: 93: 92: 89: 85: 84: 81: 77: 76: 71: 67: 66: 59: 53: 47: 46: 38: 37: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1443: 1432: 1429: 1427: 1424: 1422: 1419: 1417: 1414: 1412: 1409: 1407: 1404: 1402: 1399: 1397: 1394: 1392: 1389: 1387: 1384: 1382: 1379: 1377: 1374: 1372: 1369: 1367: 1364: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1354: 1352: 1349: 1347: 1344: 1342: 1339: 1337: 1334: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1297: 1294: 1292: 1289: 1287: 1284: 1282: 1279: 1277: 1274: 1272: 1269: 1267: 1264: 1262: 1259: 1257: 1254: 1252: 1249: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1202: 1199: 1197: 1194: 1192: 1189: 1187: 1184: 1182: 1179: 1177: 1174: 1172: 1169: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1147: 1144: 1142: 1139: 1137: 1134: 1132: 1129: 1127: 1124: 1122: 1119: 1117: 1114: 1112: 1109: 1107: 1104: 1102: 1099: 1097: 1094: 1092: 1089: 1087: 1084: 1082: 1079: 1077: 1074: 1072: 1069: 1067: 1064: 1062: 1059: 1057: 1054: 1052: 1049: 1047: 1044: 1042: 1039: 1037: 1034: 1032: 1029: 1027: 1024: 1022: 1019: 1017: 1014: 1012: 1009: 1007: 1004: 1002: 999: 997: 994: 992: 989: 987: 984: 982: 979: 977: 974: 972: 969: 967: 964: 962: 959: 957: 954: 952: 949: 947: 944: 943: 941: 926: 923: 922: 920: 918: 914: 908: 905: 903: 900: 896: 893: 892: 891: 888: 884: 881: 880: 879: 876: 872: 869: 867: 864: 863: 862: 859: 857: 854: 853: 851: 849: 845: 839: 838:Torture trade 836: 834: 831: 829: 826: 824: 821: 819: 816: 814: 811: 810: 808: 806:Controversies 804: 798: 795: 793: 790: 788: 785: 783: 780: 778: 775: 773: 770: 769: 767: 763: 757: 754: 752: 749: 747: 744: 740: 739:Torture Memos 737: 735: 732: 731: 730: 729:United States 727: 725: 722: 720: 717: 715: 712: 710: 707: 705: 702: 700: 697: 695: 692: 690: 687: 685: 682: 678: 675: 674: 673: 670: 668: 665: 663: 660: 658: 655: 653: 650: 648: 645: 643: 640: 638: 635: 634: 632: 628: 618: 617:White torture 615: 613: 610: 608: 605: 603: 600: 598: 595: 593: 590: 588: 585: 583: 580: 578: 575: 573: 570: 568: 565: 563: 562:Box (torture) 560: 558: 555: 553: 550: 549: 547: 545: 541: 535: 534:Waterboarding 532: 530: 527: 525: 522: 520: 517: 515: 511: 508: 506: 503: 501: 498: 496: 493: 491: 488: 486: 483: 481: 478: 476: 473: 471: 468: 467: 465: 463: 459: 453: 452:Water torture 450: 448: 445: 444: 442: 440: 436: 432: 425: 420: 418: 413: 411: 406: 405: 402: 396: 393: 391: 388: 386: 383: 380: 377: 376: 372: 364: 360: 357: 352: 349: 345: 341: 338: 333: 330: 326: 322: 319: 314: 311: 298: 292: 290: 288: 286: 284: 282: 280: 278: 276: 274: 270: 263: 259: 256: 254: 251: 249: 246: 245: 241: 239: 236: 229: 227: 224: 222: 217: 213: 209: 205: 201: 197: 189: 187: 185: 180: 178: 174: 170: 166: 162: 158: 148: 144: 141: 138: 134: 130: 126: 122: 118: 114: 110: 106: 102: 98: 94: 90: 86: 82: 78: 75: 72: 68: 44: 39: 34: 19: 870: 772:Witch trials 709:Saudi Arabia 485:Iron maiden 351: 332: 313: 301:. Retrieved 237: 233: 225: 193: 181: 164: 160: 156: 154: 107:22 June 2006 500:Rat torture 470:Abacination 120:Signatories 940:Categories 917:In culture 694:Mauritania 677:Greek case 630:By country 264:References 136:Depositary 883:Article 3 746:Venezuela 704:Palestine 642:Argentina 303:25 August 146:Languages 112:Condition 104:Effective 756:Zimbabwe 714:Thailand 359:Archived 340:Archived 321:Archived 242:See also 167:)) is a 99:New York 96:Location 765:History 647:Bahrain 637:Albania 577:Hooding 480:Falanga 439:Methods 431:Torture 190:History 128:Parties 80:Drafted 719:Turkey 699:Mexico 672:Greece 652:Brazil 200:Geneva 169:treaty 88:Signed 61:  55:  49:  751:Yemen 684:Egypt 662:Chile 657:China 356:OPCAT 337:OPCAT 318:OPCAT 165:OPCAT 689:Iran 667:Cuba 514:rape 512:and 305:2023 155:The 70:Type 179:). 942:: 272:^ 223:. 131:94 123:76 423:e 416:t 409:v 307:. 163:( 20:)

Index

Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Human rights convention
UN Secretary-General
treaty
United Nations Convention Against Torture
Committee for the Prevention of Torture
United Nations General Assembly
Association for the Prevention of Torture
Geneva
Special Rapporteur
Council of Europe
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
UN General Assembly
Istanbul Protocol
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
Center for Victims of Torture










"Parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment"
OPCAT

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.