The UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT): ninteenth report of session 2005-06

This report assesses the UK's compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). This Convention sets out a number of guarantees against torture as well as placing positive obligations on States in relation to the prevention of torture. This prohibition against inhuman or degrading treatment is both a fundamental principle of domestic common law and a key provision of the principal human rights treaties to which the UK is a signatory, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which is given force in UK law under the Human Rights Act 1998. Using the concluding observations of the UN Committee Against Torture's 2004 report on UK compliance with the Convention as its starting point, the Committee's report examines a range of issues including: the principle established by the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Chahal v UK; the application of UNCAT in terms of domestic law and policy including the use of evidence that might have been obtained through torture; the applicability of UNCAT to the armed forces; diplomatic assurances against torture, including deportation of people considered to be a security risk and the use of Memoranda of Understanding; investigation of deaths involving the security forces in Northern Ireland; deaths in custody and prison conditions; allegations of extraordinary renditions taking place using UK airspace or airfields; and the use of plastic bullets (attenuating energy projectiles or AEPs) in Northern Ireland.