Make a Submission
Vol. 36 (2016)
General Articles

A Recurring Phenomenon: The Lawful Sanctions Clause in the Definition of Torture and the Question of Judicial Corporal Punishment under International Human Rights Law

PDF
  • Anna Karapetyan

Published 2016-12-31

Keywords

  • human rights,
  • prohibition,
  • torture,
  • inhuman treatment,
  • corporal punishment

Copyright (c) 2021 ILS PAS

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

A Recurring Phenomenon: The Lawful Sanctions Clause in the Definition of Torture and the Question of Judicial Corporal Punishment under International Human Rights Law. (2016). Polish Yearbook of International Law, 36, 137-161. https://doi.org/10.7420/pyil2016g

Abstract

Despite the universal condemnation of torture, the prevention of appalling practices of ill-treatment has not been achieved in the 21st century. The repugnant practice persists and even increases because of the disingenuous interpretations of the definition of torture and the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. Notwithstanding the cogency of the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture, particularly regarding the treatment of detainees, nowadays corporal punishment as a punitive measure is arguably a recurring phenomenon in several former British colonies and in States where the legal system is based on Islamic Sharia. While several legally binding universal and regional instruments prohibit torture in general terms, with no specific definition, the scope of the Convention against Torture definition was narrowed down by the lawful sanctions clause. The universality of the definition has been undermined by the inclusion of this clause, since different States have different practices when it comes to lawful and unlawful sanctions. The intractable problem of the interpretation of the definition by the State-Parties and the lack of effective control mechanisms has perennially posed the greatest challenge with respect to compliance with International Human Rights Law. In light of the above, this article seeks to critically dissect the lawful sanctions clause within the context of corporal punishment.

PDF

References

  1. Abbakar M., No More Cracking of the Whip: Time to End Corporal Punishment in Sudan, Redress Trust, London 2012.
  2. African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, adopted 27 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986, CAB/LEG/67/3 Rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58.
  3. American Convention on Human Rights, adopted 22 November 1969, entered into force 18 July 1978, 1144 UNTS 123.
  4. Amnesty International, Torture in 2014, Thirty Years of Broken Promises, Amnesty International, London 2014.
  5. An-Naim A., Towards a Cross-Cultural Approach to Defining International Standards of Human Rights: The Meaning of Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading treatment or Punishment [in:] A. Abdullahi (ed.), Human Rights in Cross-Cultural Perspectives: A Quest for Consensus, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia 1995.
  6. Arab Charter on Human Rights, adopted 22 May 2004, entered into force 15 March 2008.
  7. Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) & Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), Torture in International Law: A Guide to Jurisprudence, SRO-Kundig, Geneva 2008.
  8. Association for the Prevention of Torture, The Definition of Torture, Proceedings of an Expert Seminar, APT, Geneva 2001.
  9. Bielefeldt H., “Western” versus “Islamic” Human Rights Conceptions? A Critique of Cultural Essentialism in the Discussion of Human Rights, „Political Theory” 2000, vol. 28, no. 1.
  10. Boulesbaa A., The UN Convention on Torture and the Prospects for Enforcement, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht 1999.
  11. Burgers H.J., Danelius H., The United Nations Convention against Torture: A Handbook on the Convention against Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht 1998.
  12. Cassese A., Current Development: A New Approach to Human Rights: The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, „American Journal International Law” 1989, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 128-153.
  13. CAT Reservations and Declarations, http://www.bayefsky.com/pdf/pakistan_t2_cat.pdf [accessed: 30 May 2017].
  14. Cerna C.M., Universality of Human Rights and Cultural Diversity: Implementation of Human Rights in Different Socio-Cultural Contexts, „Human Rights Quarterly” 1994, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 740-752.
  15. Committee against Torture, Concluding Observation of the Second Periodic Report of Saudi (Saudi Arabia), UN Doc. CAT/C/SAU/CO/2 (2016).
  16. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention (Zambia), UN Doc. CAT/C/SR.494 (2001).
  17. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture (Denmark), UN Doc. CAT/C/SR.519 (2002).
  18. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture (Saudi Arabia), UN Doc. CAT/C/CR/28/5 (2002).
  19. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention (Yemen), UN Doc. CAT/C/SR.583 (2003).
  20. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention (Chile), UN Doc. CAT/C/SR.77 (1991).
  21. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention (Morocco), UN Doc. CAT/C/SR.203 (1994).
  22. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention (Columbia), UN Doc. CAT/C/SR.238 (1995).
  23. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture (Nepal), UN Doc. CAT/C/NPL/CO/2 (2007).
  24. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture (Congo), UN Doc.CAT/C/DRC/CO/1 (2006).
  25. Committee against Torture, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention (Qatar), UN Doc. CAT/C/QAT/2 (2011).
  26. Committee against Torture, General Comment 2 (GC), UN Doc. CAT/C/GC/2 (2008).
  27. Convention against Torture, adopted 10 December 1984, entered into force 26 June 1987, 1465 UNTS 85.
  28. Coracini C.E., The Lawful Sanctions Clause in the State Reporting Procedure Before the Committee against Torture, „Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights” 2006, vol. 24, no. 2.
  29. Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, UN General Assembly Res. A/RES/3452(XXX), 9 December 1975.
  30. Donnelly J., Cultural Relativism and Universal Human Rights, „Human Rights Quarterly” 1984, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 400-419.
  31. Donoho D., Relativism Versus Universalism in Human Rights: The Search for Meaningful Standards, „Stanford Journal of International Law” 1999, vol. 27.
  32. Dudley J., Human Rights Practices in the Arab States: The Modern Impact of Shari’a Values, „Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law” 1981, vol. 15.
  33. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Question of the Human Rights of All Persons Subjected to Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, in Particular Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Commission on Human Rights, UN Doc. E/CN.4/1314 (1978).
  34. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Question of the Human Rights of All Persons Subjected to Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, in Particular Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley, UN Doc. E/CN.4/1997/7 (1997).
  35. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (1955), Resolutions 663 C (XXIV) and 2076 (LXII), (1957/1977).
  36. ECtHR, Archip v. Romania (App. No. 49608/08), 27 September 2011.
  37. ECtHR, Dedovskiy and Others v. Russia (App. No. 7178/03), 15 May 2008.
  38. ECtHR, Thuo v. Cyprus (App. No. 3869/07), 4 April 2017.
  39. ECtHR, Tyrer v. The United Kingdom (App. No. 5856/72), 25 April 1978.
  40. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT Standards “Substantive” Sections of the CPT’s General Reports, Imprisonment (1992), https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=09000016806ce96b [accessed: 30.05.2017[.
  41. European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted 26 November 1987, entered into force 1 February 1989, ETS 126.
  42. European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted 10 December 1948, entered into force 4 November 1950, 213 UNTS 222.
  43. Evans D.M., Morgan R., Preventing Torture: A Study of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Oxford University Press, New York 1998.
  44. Franck T., Are Human Rights Universal?, „Foreign Affairs” 2001, vol. 1, no. 80.
  45. Gaer F., Opening Remarks: General Comment No 2, „New York City Law Review” 2008, vol. 11, no. 2.
  46. General Assembly, Abolition of Corporal Punishment in Trust Territories, UN Doc. 562/VI (1952).
  47. General Assembly, Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention and Imprisonment, UN Doc. A/RES/43/173 (1988).
  48. General Assembly, Principles of Medical Ethics Relevant to the Role of Health Personnel in the Protection of Prisoners, UN Doc. A/RES/37/194 (1982).
  49. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/44/46 Supp. 46 (1989).
  50. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/45/44 Supp. 44 (1990).
  51. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/48/44 Supp. 44 (1993).
  52. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/52/44 Supp. 44 (1997).
  53. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/50/44 (1995).
  54. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/51/44 (1996).
  55. General Assembly, Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/56/44 Supp. 44 (2001).
  56. General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, UN Doc. A/60/316 (2005).
  57. General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, UN Doc. A/HRC/13/39/Add.5 (2010).
  58. General Assembly, Social Advancement in Trust Territories, UN Doc. 323/IV (1949).
  59. Giffard C., The Torture Reporting Handbook: How to Document and Respond to Allegations of Torture within the International System for the Protection of Human Rights, Human Rights Center of the University of Essex, Essex 2000.
  60. Gilmour D.R., The Meaning of „Intervene” within Article 2 (7) of the United Nations Charter: An Historical Perspective, International and Comparative Law Quarterly 1967, vol. 2, no. 16.
  61. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, Reports on Every State and Territory, http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/progress/country-reports/ [accessed: 30.05.2017].
  62. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, Reports on Every State and Territory, http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/progress/country-reports/ [accessed: 30.05.2017].
  63. Harper J., Defining Torture: Bridging the Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality, „Santa Clara Law Review” 2009, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 893-928.
  64. Hathaway O., Tortured Reasoning: The Intent to Torture under International and Domestic Law, „Virginia Journal of International Law” 2012, vol. 52.
  65. Herrmann J., Implementing the Prohibition of Torture on Three Levels: The United Nations, the Council of Europe, and Germany, „Hastings International and Comparative Law Review” 2008, vol. 31, no. 1.
  66. Higgins T., What is a Human Right? Universals and the Challenge of Cultural Relativism, „Pace International Law Review” 1999, vol. 11, no. 1.
  67. HRC, Antti Vuolanne v. Finland (App. No. 265/1987), UN Doc. CCPR/C/35/D/265/1987 (1989).
  68. HRC, Boodlal Sooklal v. Trinidad and Tobago (App. No. 928/2000), UN Doc. CCPR/C/73/D/928/2000 (2001).
  69. HRC, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 40 of the Covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Iraq, UN Doc. CCPR/C/79/Add.84 (1997).
  70. HRC, Errol Pryce v. Jamaica (App. No. 793/1998), UN Doc. CCPR/C/80/D/793/1998 (2004).
  71. HRC, General Comment 20 (GC), UN Doc. HRI/GEN/1/Rev.1 (1992).
  72. HRC, Higginson v. Jamaica (App. No. 792/1998), UN Doc. CCPR/C/74/D/792/1998 (2002).
  73. HRC, Osbourne v. Jamaica (App. No. 759/1997), UN Doc. CCPR/C/68/D/759/1997 (2000).
  74. IAComHR, Curtis Francis Doebbler v. Sudan (236/2000) 2003.
  75. IACtHR, Caesar v. Trinidad and Tobago, 11 March 2005.
  76. Ingelse C., The UN Committee against Torture: An Assessment, Kluwer Law International, The Hague 2001.
  77. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23 March 1976, 999 UNTS 171.
  78. International Human Rights Institutions, Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations Adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies, UN Doc. HRI/GEN/1/Rev.7 (2004).
  79. Kausikan B., An East Asian Approach to Human Rights, „Buffalo Journal of International Law” 1996, no. 2.
  80. Lawan M. et al., An Introduction to Islamic Criminal Justice: A Teaching and Learning Manual, Higher Education Academy, London 2011.
  81. Ledwidge F., The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT): A Major Step Forward in the Global Prevention of Torture, „Helsinki Monitor” 2006, vol. 17
  82. Marks S., Azizi F., Responsibility for Violations of Human Rights Obligations: International Mechanism [in:] C. James et al. (eds.), The Law of International Responsibility, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2010.
  83. Miethe T., Lu H., Punishment: A Comparative Historical Perspective, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2005.
  84. Mojekwu C., The African Perspective in International Human Rights Law [in:] J. Nelson, V. Green (eds.), International Human Rights: Contemporary Issues, Human Rights Publishing Group, New York 1980.
  85. Murray R., National Preventive Mechanisms under the Optional Protocol to the Torture Convention: One Size Does Not Fit All, „Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights” 2008, vol. 26, no. 4.
  86. Nowak M., Challenges to the Absolute Nature of the Prohibition of Torture and Ill-treatment, „Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights” 2005, vol. 23, no. 4.
  87. Nowak M., Fact-Finding on Torture and Ill-Treatment and Conditions of Detention, „Journal of Human Rights Practice” 2009, vol. 1.
  88. Nowak M., McArthur E., The United Nations Convention against Torture: A Commentary, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2008.
  89. Nowak M., Recent Developments in Combating Torture, „SIM Newsletter” 1987, no. 19.
  90. Nowak M., UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: CCPR Commentary, Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte, Kehl 2005.
  91. Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted 18 December 2002, entered into force 22 June 2006, UN GA Res.A/RES/57/199.
  92. Organisation of American States (OAS), Principles and Best Practices on the Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas, Resolution OEA/Ser/L/V/II.131 Doc. 26 (2008).
  93. Pakistan, ICCPR Reservations and Declarations, http://www.bayefsky.com/pdf/pakistan_t2_ccpr.pdf; Pakistan [accessed: 30 May 2017].
  94. Parry J., Torture Nation, Torture Law, „Georgetown Law Journal” 2009, vol. 97.
  95. Peters R., Crime and Punishment in Islamic Law: Theory and Practice from the Sixteenth to the Twenty-first Century, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2005.
  96. Renteln A.D., Corporal Punishment and the Cultural Defense, „Law and Contemporary Problems” 2010, vol. 73, pp. 253-279.
  97. Rodley N., Pollard M., The Treatment of Prisoners under International Law, Oxford University Press, New York 2009.
  98. Rodley N., The Prohibition of Torture: Absolute Means Absolute, „Denver Journal of International Law and Policy” 2006, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 145-160.
  99. Rouillard F.L., Misinterpreting the Prohibition of Torture under International Law: The Office of Legal Counsel Memorandum, „American University International Law Review” 2005, vol. 21.
  100. Ruiz-Chiriboga O., Indigenous Corporal Punishment in Ecuador and the Prohibition of Torture and Ill-Treatment, „American University International Law Review” 2013, vol. 28.
  101. Shany Y., The Prohibition against Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment and Punishment: Can the Absolute Be Relativized under Existing International Law? „Catholic University Law Review” 2007, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 837-869.
  102. Simma B., Philip A., The Sources of Human Rights Law: Custom, Jus Cogens, and General Principles, „Australian Yearbook of International Law” 1992, no. 12.
  103. Teson F., International Human Rights and Cultural Relativism, „Virginia Journal of International Law” 1984-1985, vol. 4.
  104. The Vienna Declaration and Programme Action (adopted 24 June 1993), UN Doc. A/Conf. 157/24 (Part 1), at 20-46, 13 October 1993.
  105. Twiss S., Torture, Justification, and Human Rights: Toward an Absolute Proscription, „Human Rights Quarterly” 2007, vol. 29.
  106. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Status of Ratification Interactive Dashboard, http://indicators.ohchr.org/ [accessed: 30.05.2017].
  107. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Istanbul Protocol, Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, HR/P/PT/8/Rev.1 (2004).
  108. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 10 December 1948, UN General Assembly Res. 217 A (III).
  109. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, adopted 23 May 1969, entered into force 27 January 1980, 1155 UNTS 331.
  110. Wendland L.A., Handbook on State Obligations under the UN Convention against Torture, APT, Geneva 2002.
  111. Zechenter E., In the Name of Culture: Cultural Relativism and the Abuse of the Individuals, „Journal of Anthropological Research” 1997, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 319-347.

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.