Sudan: It’s High Time to Ratify the UN Convention Against Torture

04:10 AM April, 09 2018

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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT
AI INDEX: AFR 54/8199/2018 9 April 2018

Background
Sudan signed the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) in 1986,1 but more than 30 years later, it is yet to ratify the Convention despite repeated government commitment to do so.
In May 2016, during Sudan’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, the Sudanese government accepted for the second time, recommendations to ratify the Convention and strengthen efforts to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (other ill-treatment).2 Sudan had previously accepted similar recommendations during its 2011 review.3 The government also stated that they were taking steps to effect the recommendation to ratify the Convention.4
Amnesty International welcomes these commitments and encourages Sudan to implement them. By ratifying the Convention against Torture, Sudan will join the vast majority of states – 162 – who are party to this Convention.
Freedom from torture and other ill-treatment is a universally recognized human right. The absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment is a rule of customary international law that is binding on all nations irrespective of whether or not they have signed the Convention,5 but the Convention provides useful content and detail to this general
1 United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1465, p. 85. https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspxØŸsrc=INDandmtdsg_no=IV- 9andchapter=4andlang=en#3
2 Human Rights Council, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review – Sudan, UN Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/25/L.5, 9 May 2016, recommendations 139.6-139.10.
3 Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review*, Sudan, Addendum, , UN Doc.
A/HRC/18/16/Add.1, 16 September 2011, http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/session11/SD/A_H...16_Add.1_Sudan_E.doc
4 See for instance Human Rights Committee, Fifth periodic report submitted by the Sudan, UN Doc. CCPR/C/SDN/5, 11 October 2017, para. 52 http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashxØŸenc...d%2brIq%2bwz9j3ONcXb j7kWZVmLma%2fu6aDrgkIzgE%2b8hFgEvP40i9OFHU548vG4V2bgDrACNsSIB8uAgaUNlpaG2eMODvCqll%2fnXrX.
5 See for example: International Court of Justice: Questions Relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite
(Belgium v Senegal), Judgment of 20 July 2012, para. 99; Case Concerning Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea
v Democratic Republic of the Congo), Judgment of 30 November 2010, para. 87; UN General Assembly resolution
66/150, 27 March 2012, third preambular paragraph; Prosecutor v Furundzija (IT-95-17/1) ICTY, Trial Judgment (1998), prars.137-146.