UK torture review: call for evidence

This December will mark 30 years since the UK ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). As a human rights organisation that holds torturing states to account and seeks to ensure they uphold their commitments to international treaties, it is only fair that Freedom from Torture holds the UK to the same standards.

This year, the United Nations Committee against Torture will conduct its sixth periodic review into whether the UK is upholding its obligations under UNCAT. Freedom from Torture is working with Redress to gather evidence for a joint shadow report on the measures taken by the UK Government to prevent torture and ill-treatment. We are calling for written evidence covering areas including, but not limited to:

  • Allegations of torture by UK personnel overseas;
  • Indefinite detention of asylum seekers;
  • Allegations of ill-treatment in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs);
  • The deportation of individuals who are at risk of torture or ill-treatment;
  • Allegations of excessive use of restraint against people in health care settings;
  • Inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation;
  • Violence against women and gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation;
  • Human trafficking; and
  • The impact of Brexit.

We invite and encourage all interested organisations, researchers and practitioners who work on the above or related issues to submit written evidence. The deadline is Friday 2 November 2018.

The shadow report is being produced ahead of the sixth periodic review of the UK by the United Nations Committee against Torture, which is the treaty body that monitors the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Torture (Convention).  This is a process that happens every four years and presents a real opportunity for civil society to hold the UK Government to account.

REDRESS is also today launching a new Guide to the Convention against Torture. The Guide raises awareness of the issues covered under the Convention and highlights opportunities for civil society and others on how to use the Convention effectively to put pressure on governments to comply with their obligations.

REDRESS will also be offering in-person consultation and capacity-building events on this process in Manchester, Cardiff, London and Birmingham throughout October 2018.

We are working on this project alongside REDRESS, Children’s Rights Alliance England (CRAE), Children in Wales, Disability Rights UK and Liberty.