Convention Against Torture
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Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984. Entered into force on June 26, 1987.
Relevant Provisions of the Convention Against Torture
Article 1 - Definition of Torture
The term “torture” means 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. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.
Article 2
Each state party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measure to prevent torture. No exceptional circumstances, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or other public emergency may be invoked as justification of torture. An order from a superior officer or public authority may not be invoked as justification of torture.
Article 3
No state party shall extradite a person to another state where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subject to torture. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the state concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
Article 4
Each state party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture. Each state party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature.
Article 6
Any person in custody shall be assisted in communicating immediately with the nearest appropriate representative of the State of which he is a national.
Article 7
Persons alleged to have committed any offence referred to in article 4 are entitled to fair treatment at all stages of proceedings.
Article 10
Each State Party shall ensure that education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment.
Article 13
Each State Party shall ensure that any individual who alleged he has been subjected to torture in any territory under its jurisdiction has the right to complain to, and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by, its competent authorities. Steps shall be taken to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any given evidence.
Article 14
Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation, including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible. If the victim is dead as a result of an act of torture, his dependants shall be entitled to compensation.
Article 15
Each State Party shall ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made.
Status of Signature, Ratification and Accession to the Convention Against Torture
| Country | Signature | Ratification/Accession |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 4 February 1985 | 1 April 1987 |
| Albania | - | 11 May 1994 |
| Algeria | 26 November 1985 | 12 September 1989 |
| Andorra | 5 August 2002 | 22 September 2006 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | - | 19 July 1993 |
| Argentina | 4 February 1985 | 24 September 1986 |
| Armenia | - | 13 September 1993 |
| Australia | 10 December 1985 | 8 August 1989 |
| Austria | 14 March 1985 | 29 July 1987 |
| Azerbaijan | - | 16 August 1996 |
| Bahamas | 16 December 2008 | - |
| Bahrain | - | 6 March 1998 |
| Bangladesh | - | 5 October 1998 |
| Belarus | 19 December 1985 | 13 March 1987 |
| Belgium | 4 February 1985 | 25 June 1999 |
| Belize | - | 17 March 1986 |
| Benin | - | 12 March 1992 |
| Bolivia | 4 February 1985 | 12 April 1999 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | - | 1 September 1993 |
| Botswana | 8 September 2000 | 8 September 2000 |
| Brazil | 23 September 1985 | 28 September 1989 |
| Bulgaria | 10 June 1986 | 16 December 1986 |
| Burkina Faso | - | 4 January 1999 |
| Burundi | - | 18 February 1993 |
| Cambodia | - | 15 October 1992 |
| Cameroon | - | 19 December 1986 |
| Canada | 23 August 1985 | 24 June 1987 |
| Cape Verde | - | 4 June 1992 |
| Chad | - | 9 June 1995 |
| Chile | 23 September 1987 | 30 September 1988 |
| China | 12 December 1986 | 4 October 1988 |
| Colombia | 10 April 1985 | 8 December 1987 |
| Comoros | 22 September 2000 | - |
| Congo | - | 30 July 2003 |
| Costa Rica | 4 February 1985 | 11 November 1993 |
| Ivory Coast | - | 18 December 1995 |
| Croatia | - | 12 October 1992 |
| Cuba | 27 January 1986 | 17 May 1995 |
| Cyprus | 9 October 1985 | 18 July 1991 |
| Czech Republic | - | 22 February 1993 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | - | 18 March 1996 |
| Denmark | 4 February 1985 | 27 May 1987 |
| Djibouti | - | 5 November 2002 |
| Dominican Republic | 4 February 1985 | - |
| Ecuador | 4 February 1985 | 30 March 1988 |
| Egypt | - | 25 June 1986 |
| El Salvador | - | 17 June 1996 |
| Equatorial Guinea | - | 8 October 2002 |
| Estonia | - | 21 October 1991 |
| Ethiopia | - | 14 March 1994 |
| Finland | 4 February 1985 | 30 August 1989 |
| France | 4 February 1985 | 18 February 1986 |
| Gabon | 21 January 1986 | 8 September 2000 |
| Gambia | 23 October 1985 | - |
| Georgia | - | 26 October 1994 |
| Germany | 13 October 1986 | 1 October 1990 |
| Ghana | 7 September 2000 | 7 September 2000 |
| Greece | 4 February 1985 | 6 October 1988 |
| Guatemala | - | 5 January 1990 |
| Guinea | 30 May 1986 | 10 October 1989 |
| Guinea Bissau | 12 September 2000 | - |
| Guyana | 25 January 1988 | 19 May 1988 |
| Holy See | - | 26 June 2002 |
| Honduras | - | 5 December 1996 |
| Hungary | 28 November 1986 | 15 April 1987 |
| Iceland | 4 February 1985 | 23 October 1998 |
| Iraq | - | 7 July 2011 |
| Ireland | 28 September 1992 | 11 April 2002 |
| Israel | 22 October 1986 | 3 October 1991 |
| Italy | 4 February 1985 | 12 January 1989 |
| Japan | - | 29 June 1999 |
| Jordan | - | 13 November 1991 |
| Kazakhstan | - | 26 August 1998 |
| Kenya | - | 21 February 1997 |
| Kuwait | - | 8 March 1996 |
| Kyrgyzstan | - | 5 September 1997 |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 21 September 2010 | - |
| Latvia | - | 14 April 1992 |
| Lebanon | - | 5 October 2000 |
| Lesotho | - | 12 November 2001 |
| Liberia | - | 22 September 2004 |
| Libyan Ara Jamahiriya | - | 16 May 1989 |
| Liechtenstien | 27 June 1985 | 2 November 1990 |
| Lithuania | - | 1 February 1996 |
| Luxembourg | 22 February 1985 | 29 September 1987 |
| Magadascar | 1 October 2001 | 13 December 2005 |
| Malawi | - | 11 June 1996 |
| Maldives | - | 20 April 2004 |
| Mali | - | 26 February 1999 |
| Malta | - | 13 September 1990 |
| Mauritania | - | 17 November 2004 |
| Mexico | 18 March 1985 | 23 January 1986 |
| Monaco | - | 6 December 1991 |
| Mongolia | - | 24 January 2002 |
| Montenegro | - | 23 October 2006 |
| Morocco | 8 January 1986 | 21 June 1993 |
| Mozambique | - | 14 September 1999 |
| Namibia | - | 28 November 1994 |
| Nauru | 12 November 2001 | - |
| Nepal | - | 14 May 1991 |
| Netherlands | 4 February 1985 | 21 December 1988 |
| New Zealand | 14 January 1986 | 10 December 1989 |
| Nicaragua | 15 April 1985 | 5 July 2005 |
| Niger | - | 5 October 1998 |
| Nigeria | 28 July 1988 | 28 June 2001 |
| Norway | 4 February 1985 | 9 July 1986 |
| Pakistan | 17 April 2008 | 23 June 2010 |
| Palau | 20 September 2011 | - |
| Panama | 22 February 1985 | 24 August 1987 |
| Paraguay | 23 October 1989 | 12 March 1990 |
| Peru | 29 May 1985 | 7 July 1988 |
| Philippines | - | 18 June 1986 |
| Poland | 13 January 1986 | 26 July 1989 |
| Portugal | 4 February 1985 | 9 February 1989 |
| Qatar | - | 11 January 2000 |
| Republic of Korea | - | 9 January 1995 |
| Republic of Moldova | - | 28 November 1995 |
| Romania | - | 18 December 1990 |
| Russian Federation | 10 December 1985 | 3 March 1987 |
| Rwanda | - | 15 December 2008 |
| San Marino | 18 September 2002 | 27 November 2006 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 6 September 2000 | - |
| Saudi Arabia | - | 23 September 1997 |
| Senegal | 4 February 1985 | 21 August 1986 |
| Serbia | - | 12 March 2001 |
| Seychelles | - | 5 May 1992 |
| Sierra Leone | 18 March 1985 | 25 April 2001 |
| Slovakia | - | 28 May 1993 |
| Slovenia | - | 16 July 1993 |
| Somalia | - | 24 January 1990 |
| South Africa | 29 January 1993 | 10December1998 |
| Spain | 4 February 1985 | 21 October 1987 |
| Sri Lanka | - | 3 January 1994 |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | - | 1 August 2001 |
| Sudan | 4 June 1986 | - |
| Swaziland | - | 26 March 2004 |
| Sweden | 4 February 1985 | 8 January 1986 |
| Switzerland | 4 February 1985 | 2 December 1986 |
| Syrian Arab Republic | - | 19 August 2004 |
| Tajikistan | - | 11 January 1995 |
| Thailand | - | 2 October 2007 |
| The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | - | 12 December 1994 |
| Timor Leste | - | 16 April 2003 |
| Togo | 25 March 1987 | 18 November 1987 |
| Tunisia | 26 August 1987 | 23 September 1988 |
| Turkey | 25 January 1988 | 2 August 1988 |
| Turkmenistan | - | 25 June 1999 |
| Uganda | - | 3 November 1986 |
| Ukraine | 27 February 1986 | 24 February 1987 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 15 March 1985 | 8 December 1988 |
| United State of America | 18 April 1988 | 21 October 1994 |
| Uruguay | 4 February 1985 | 24 October 1986 |
| Uzbekistan | - | 28 September 1995 |
| Vanuatu | - | 12 July 2011 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 15 February 1985 | 29 July 1991 |
| Yemen | - | 5 November 1991 |
| Zambia | - | 7 October 1998 |
( signatures)
