FFT joins calls for putting an end to war criminals gaining 'safe haven' in the UK

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture (now Freedom from Torture) supports calls to close legal loopholes which allow people suspected of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to gain sanctuary in the UK.

The presence of suspected war criminals and genocidaires is revealed by the by the Aegis Trust (http://www.aegistrust.org/) in its report 'suspect War Criminals and Genocidaires in the UK' - which is highly critical of the current 'impunity gaps' in UK law.

These 'impunity gaps' prevent the prosecution of those suspected of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if those atrocities were committed before 2001, when the International Criminal Court Act came into force.

Furthermore, perpetrators who find sanctuary in this country as non-residents are also immune from prosecution. Non-residents include students, visitors and those seeking asylum. This is in contrast to other countries which can prosecute those responsible for the most grave human rights violations regardless of residency.

Ellie Smith, Human Rights & Policy Officer at the MF, said: "When committed by forces during conflict, torture can be a war crime or a crime against humanity, depending upon the scale of its infliction. Many of our clients are survivors of genocide campaigns in their home countries. Very often in the cases of our clients, however, justice in their home countries is simply unattainable, while in other instances, perpetrators cannot be extradited where they risk an unfair trial or torture.

"It is therefore essential that these legal loopholes are closed so that torture survivors are able to pursue justice in the UK against war criminals and genocidaires here, so that charges against perpetrators fully reflect the full experiences of torture survivors, and so that sentences are handed down which properly reflect the gravity of such horrific acts. "