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

The CAT requires countries that have ratified it (known as member countries) to take actions (or measures) that will prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in their country.

Australia ratified the CAT in 1989 and has turned some of the measures against torture into law.

Some of the measures included in the CAT are:

• Ban on sending a person to another country where there is reason to believe they will be tortured
• Making torture a criminal offence
• Prompt investigation of torture allegations
• Making it possible for people who have committed torture to be extradited (handed over to a country where they committed torture)
• Compensation for victims of torture
• Ban on using evidence taken from torture
• Training and education about to the banning of torture to anyone involved in arresting, detaining and imprisoning people
• Reviewing any rules, instructions, methods, and practices about interrogation of people in custody, to prevent torture
• Taking action to prevent all acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and investigate allegations

Treaty body – UN Commitee against Torture

The UN Committee against Torture is the treaty body responsible for making sure the CAT is being implemented in member countries.

All member countries have to submit regular reports to the Committee against Torture about how the CAT is being implemented in their country. The Committee will look at each report, address any concerns and make recommendations.

The Committee against Torture also takes complaints and can make investigations about human rights breaches by member countries. This includes Australia.

For more information on making a complaint to the UN Committee against Torture, click here.

The full CAT can be found on the UN’s website.