Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CAT)

Basic facts about the CAT
Stages of monitoring states’ obligation with the CAT
Guidance for NGO submissions on the CAT
Useful guides & links

Basic facts about the CAT

• The CAT is monitored by the Committee against Torture (CAT)
• The CAT was ratified by the UK in 1988
• Committee Against Torture: Introduction
• The UK also ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT)
• The OPCAT is monitored by the subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT).
• The UK’s last report to UNCAT was published in 2018, with concluding observations published in 2019.
• The UK published a follow-up report in 2020
• The UK’s next report is due in May 2023

Stages of monitoring states’ obligation with the CAT

1. State reporting
2. ‘shadow reports’ by organisations
3. Pre-session working group
   • A list of issues and questions is created.
4. State reply and dialogue with the committee
5. Concluding observations
6. Follow-up procedure
   

Guidance for NGO submissions on the CAT

• Information for Civil Society Organisations and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)
• The Committee adopts Lists Of Issues (LOIs) at least one session ahead of the session, during which it will examine the State party’s report and meets with the State party’s delegation.
• The written information that NGOs, NHRIs and National Preventative Mechanisms (NPMs) wish to submit to the Committee for the LOIs must be received by the Secretariat in an electronic format within specific deadlines before the opening of the session.
• The written information submitted by NGOs, NHRIs or NPMs to the Committee for the examination of the State party’s report, must be received in an electronic format no later than four weeks before the opening of the session.
• NGOs that have submitted written information to the Committee regarding a State party may also meet with the Committee. During these briefings, the NGOs representatives can address the Committee and the Committee can pose questions.

Presentation of information to the CAT

• NGOs are encouraged to present their information organised under the respective articles of the Convention.
• Please include relevant concerns and recommendations for improvement.
• NGOs are also encouraged to coordinate their inputs and to submit consolidated, joint reports.
• The information should be factual, reliable, precise, and clear.
• The report must identify the submitting NGO, as anonymous information is not accepted.
• It must be relevant to the mandate of the Committee and the examination of the State party’s report.
• The information should not contain names of victims except if related to public cases or if the consent of the victims or their families is obtained.

Useful guides & links

UN Reports

• Sixth periodic report submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under article 19 of the Convention pursuant to the optional reporting procedure, 2018
• Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 2019
• Information received from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on follow-up to the concluding observations on its sixth periodic report, 2020

Civil society guides and submissions

• ‘The UN Convention Against Torture: How civil society organisations can help hold the Government to account’– from the Equality and Human Rights Commission 
• Torture in the UK, Equality and Human Rights Commission’s submission to the Committee Against Torture- 2016
• United Kingdom: Submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, Amnesty International- 2019
• Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture on the UK’s Sixth Periodic Report, Committee on the Administration of Justice, 2019
• Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) Submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, Together- 2019
• Britain and the Convention against Torture: Follow up submission to the Committee Against Torture, Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2020
• Submission to UN Committee Against Torture: Follow up on the UK’s sixth periodic report, Committee on the Administration of Justice, 2020