Print this Email this

Amnesty International applauds Government torture ban

22 May 2009, 03:46PM

Amnesty International welcomes today's announcement that the Australian Government has taken steps to strengthen support for the absolute prohibition against torture, both internationally and at home.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland announced that the government has signed the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and that it plans to enact a specific Commonwealth offence against torture.

“Signing the Optional Protocol sends a strong and unequivocal message to the international community that Australia does not support the use of torture anywhere in the world,” Amnesty International spokesperson Katie Wood said.

Australia became a party to the Convention Against Torture in 1989. The Optional Protocol provides a mechanism for review of detention facilities to ensure that torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment is not being practised.

At the national level, a body would be empowered to promote standards and conduct inspections - without notice - of jails and other places of detention, and to hold officials to account. International experts could also conduct inspections of Australian detention facilities and report any concerns.

“Such a system would be a strong measure towards preventing abuse of people in custody and create an environment in which perpetrators are not able to act without being brought to justice,” Katie Wood said.

Amnesty International believes that a national custody monitoring body would also ensure an appropriate focus on issues specific to Indigenous people in custody and help address Indigenous deaths in custody. Immigration detention facilities, including those on Christmas Island and other places of detention in Australia, would also come under the scrutiny of this body.

Amnesty International also welcomes the Attorney-General's announcement that the Government will introduce legislation this year to enact a specific Commonwealth torture offence specifically outlawing torture both in Australia and in relation to Australian officials overseas.

Features and analysis

Alyawarr women

Healthy homelands

An Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is showing the government how to close the health gap.

A pregnant woman in Sierra Leone

Childbirth in Sierra Leone

Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.

cards of support created by Australian children

Harming Children

Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.

These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now

Comments

Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.

4

J.C. Iltis
27 May 2009, 02:08PM Notify the web editor

Mamoud Habib was tortured in Egypt and Pakistan in the presence of Australians and Guantanamo.  Will the legislation make any difference?

3

Keith
27 May 2009, 10:39AM Notify the web editor

Why then does the Australian Government refuse to take steps to strengthen the absolute abolition of the barbaric death penalty internationally? The legalised torture and killing of human beings are totally abhorant acts.

2

Daniel Edward Wilson LLB
23 May 2009, 03:41PM Notify the web editor

I am pleased to hear that the CAT has finally been signed and that a CTH piece of Anti torture legislation will now be enacted. Hopefully the new legislation and system will allow inspections by the Red Cross to any place of detention and hopefully the Attorney Generals consent is not required to prosecute torture related offences. Now that the CAT has been signed today is a good day.

1

lili
22 May 2009, 06:48PM Notify the web editor

regards

Page 1 of 1 pages

 

Sorry, commenting is no longer available in this weblog entry.

Make an impact

You can make a difference right now. Your action will help to shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.

You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.

Check out what 110,752 people are doing right now to support human rights.

Act now

Stay Informed

Sign up for email updates

Subscribe using RSS

Get Involved

Two Columbian boys smiling and holding their arms out with their thumbs up - a sign of hope

Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.

Donate