Nov 05, 2008

UNPO and WUC Submit Torture Report on China


UNPO has submitted a joint report with the World Uyghur Congress on the implementation of the Convention Against Torture within the People’s Republic of China.

UNPO has submitted a joint report with the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) on the implementation of the Convention Against Torture within the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PRC will go through its periodical review in November 2008, which is based on the state report that the PRC has submitted to the Committee Against Torture (CAT).

The Committee Against Torture is a committee of 10 independent experts, who monitor the implementation of the Convention Against Torture. State parties to the Convention are required to periodically submit reports on the domestic implementation of the Convention Against Torture. The CAT also allows NGOs and other stakeholders to submit reports on the domestic implementation of the Convention Against Torture. The review process will take into account the state report by the PRC, as will it note the submissions made by NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. The review process will result in a set concluding observations and comments. Each state party to the Convention Against Torture is obliged to submit a state report every four (4) years.

In the joint report that UNPO submitted with the World Uyghur Congress to the Committee Against Torture, it has expressed grave concern over the use of torture within the People’s Republic of China. The report expresses particular concern over the following issues:

  • lack of a definition of what torture consists of in national PRC law;
  • insufficient preventive measures; and
  • lack of impartial investigation when acts of torture are suspected.

To read the full report, please click here.