UN’s Torture Convention

Abstract:

Torture has been used as a tool to exploit minority people from time immemorial. During war or communal violence, torture has been prevalent in countries all around the world. Convention Against Torture is one of UN based treaty to eradicate torture from this world and to retain human rights. Torture is defined in Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. This piece will attempt to break down such complex definitions and provide an accurate legal insight into the aforementioned issue.

Authored by A. Keerthikah, School of Law, Mumbai University.