A/HRC/34/54
narratives and popular beliefs that not only trivialize torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment but even promote and incite their use
in the name of national security and the fight against terrorism.
53.
Therefore, the first priority of the Special Rapporteur will be to unequivocally
reaffirm the absolute and universal prohibition of all, and any, forms of torture and
other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, to further clarify the
contours and meaning of these terms in the light of the evolving challenges marking
the contemporary international environment, and to call on States and non-State
actors alike to renounce, and to prevent impunity for, any such practice.
54.
Throughout his tenure, the Special Rapporteur intends to continue some of the
thematic work streams initiated by his predecessors, such as the envisaged protocol on
non-coercive interviewing and other issues arising in the area of police custody and
pretrial detention. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur will also endeavour to widen
the protection space for victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. To that end, he intends to take up a number of issues that
have not yet received systematic attention from the international community, such as
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment occurring in
relation to forced migration, in extra-custodial settings and at the hands of non-State
actors.
55.
The Special Rapporteur is of the firm view that there is no better deterrent to
torture than a strong national will to combat and prevent such abhorrent abuse. In
addition to visiting places of detention, therefore, the Special Rapporteur will use the
opportunity of fact-finding visits to encourage States to take effective legislative,
administrative and judicial measures to prevent torture. In particular, wherever
necessary, the Special Rapporteur will call upon States to ratify the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
and the Optional Protocol thereto and to establish independent and professional
national preventive mechanisms.
56.
In carrying out his mandate, the Special Rapporteur will always endeavour to
engage in an open, respectful and constructive dialogue with States and other
international, regional and non-governmental stakeholders, and aim to gain mutual
trust and consolidated understanding of all relevant perspectives, concerns and
challenges before drawing any conclusions or trying to identify the most suitable
manner of action.
57.
The Special Rapporteur considers it an absolute priority of the mandate to
continue transmitting urgent appeals to States with regard to individuals reported to
be at risk of torture, as well as communications on past alleged cases of torture.
However, having recently taken up his functions, the Special Rapporteur notes with
serious concern that the resources allocated to the mandate are not sufficient to
respond to the ever-growing number of urgent requests for intervention on behalf of
individuals. The Special Rapporteur therefore appeals to the Human Rights Council,
as well as to its members individually, to take every possible measure to allow the
Special Rapporteur to carry out the mandate effectively.
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