Human Rights Conventions, CAT – Convention Against Torture And Other Cruel, Inhuman Or Degrading Treatment Or Punishment

The prohibition of torture has been laid down in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a fact to which the preamble of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in short Torture Convention, refers to explicitly. The Convention does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions. It obliges the contracting states to take effective measures within the framework of their national legislature to prevent acts of torture in any territory under their jurisdiction. If the Committee against Torture (CAT), which was established under the Convention, receives reliable information which appears to contain well-founded indications of systematic torture, the Committee has the power to start its own inquiries. Thus, this investigation procedure goes beyond those of other human rights conventions. Keywords: CommitteeAgainst Torture (CAT); cruel corporal punishment; degrading treatment; human rights conventions