-Caveat Lector-
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 16:05:24 +0100
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: UN: Time for decisive action to prevent torture
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
23 July 2002
IOR 40/018/2002
The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is due tomorrow to
approve the text of a new treaty which aims to prevent torture:
the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the
Optional Protocol).
"A vote against this Optional Protocol would be a
disastrous set back in the fight against torture," said Martin
MacPherson, Head of Amnesty International's Legal Program, on the
eve of this crucial vote.
According to the organization's Annual Report 2002,
people were reportedly tortured or ill-treated by security
forces, police or other state authorities in 111 countries.
"Any attempts to derail this process must be resisted by
all members of ECOSOC: the victims of torture deserve no less,"
Mr MacPherson stated as it urged that the text be forwarded to
the General Assembly for its approval.
The Optional Protocol has been discussed for the last ten
years and already addresses many countries' concerns. It
currently enjoys wide support from ECOSOC members, including the
European Union and countries in most regions of the world, but is
opposed by the USA.
"US opposition to a development in international law
which would prevent torture is appalling," Mr MacPherson said.
"To re-open negotiations at this time could only lead to
watering down the text -- so that it will fail to fulfil its aim,
to prevent torture and ill-treatment still so prevalent around
the world."
This Protocol creates a mechanism to prevent torture by
establishing an international system of unannounced inspection
visits to places of detention, such as police stations and
prisons: the experts making the visits would then be able to make
recommendations on practical measures to prevent torture. It
would only apply to those states who chose to become parties to
the Protocol.
"The international community has a duty to those who are
victims of torture to take all possible action to prevent this
vile crime being repeated," Mr MacPherson added.
Amnesty International has been campaigning against torture for
nearly 40 years. For more information please visit
http://www.stoptorture.org
****************************************************************
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main
text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting
Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the
list subscription message may be removed.
****************************************************************
To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe,
send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with "unsubscribe amnesty-L"
in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> handles
only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty
news services can be found at <http://www.amnesty.org/news/>.
Visit <http://www.amnesty.org> for information about Amnesty International
and for other AI publications. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you
need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International.
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
