UN Human Rights Office Works Actively to Combat Torture

MEDIA RELEASE
6 June 2011

UN Human Rights Office Works Actively to Combat Torture in Pacific

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Torture is unacceptable in any form and can never be justified” says Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative for the Pacific of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

In May, a number of allegations regarding torture in Fiji were aired in national and regional media. Torture can occur across the Pacific, as it can in all regions of the world. OHCHR has been working on combating torture in the Pacific region since 2005, including in Fiji, through the work programme of the Regional Office based in Suva, Fiji. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN human rights experts and other parts of the UN system have made public statements on issues of torture and ill-treatment in a number of countries of the Pacific, covering cases since at least the year 2000. OHCHR has also advocated on specific cases with governments of the region, in accordance with international standards, including the need to carry out full and impartial investigations into allegations of torture.

“Unfortunately, the Pacific has not yet invested enough in safeguards to prevent torture and ill-treatment. It is not evident that governments or major donors have focused sufficiently on the need for accountability mechanisms within law enforcement and justice systems, so impunity for torture and ill-treatment can appear to be the norm rather than an exception in the region,” adds Matilda Bogner.

In 2010, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture issued a report on torture globally and made findings that are relevant for the Pacific. He found that “[i]n the vast majority of States, torture not only occurs in isolated cases, but is practised in a more regular, widespread or even systematic manner... The major structural reason for the widespread practice of torture in many countries is the malfunctioning of the administration of justice and, consequently the lack of respect for safeguards. States are not investing sufficient resources in the administration of justice. Judges, prosecutors, police and prison officials are often not well educated, overworked, underpaid and, therefore, corrupt.”

OHCHR has provided technical assistance on torture prevention to a number of countries of the Pacific. This has included work with Vanuatu on the ratification and implementation of the Convention against Torture, support to the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture to Papua New Guinea in 2010 and implementation of the recommendations from the visit. It advocates with all the Pacific Island Countries for the ratification of the Convention against Torture. At present, no Pacific Island Country has ratified the Convention, although Vanuatu is expected to complete its ratification process with the UN in New York shortly.

ENDS
Notes to Editors:
OHCHR leads global human rights efforts and works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.
OHCHR is headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, who co-ordinates human rights activities throughout the UN System and supervises the Human Rights Council.
OHCHR Regional Pacific office covers 16 countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
For more information on OHCHR Regional Pacific visit http://www.pacific.ohchr.org

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