Systematic torture in Afghan detention facilities

 
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, October 11, 2011
Adjust font size:

A new United Nations report released today cites evidence of the "systematic" torture and mistreatment of detainees in Afghan detention facilities, including of children, and provides recommendations which it hopes will spur the necessary reforms.

The report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is the result of extensive interviews from October 2010 to August 2011 of 379 pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners at 47 facilities of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Afghan National Police (ANP) in 22 provinces.

The mission found "compelling" evidence that 125 detainees, or 46 per cent, of the 273 detainees interviewed who had been in NDS detention experienced interrogation techniques at the hands of NDS officials that constituted torture, and that torture is practiced "systematically" in a number of NDS detention facilities throughout Afghanistan," states the report.

"Nearly all detainees tortured by NDS officials reported the abuse took place during interrogations and was aimed at obtaining a confession or information. In almost every case, NDS officials stopped the use of torture once detainees confessed to the crime of which they were accused or provided the requested information.

"UNAMA also found that children under the age of 18 years experienced torture by NDS officials," the report adds.

In addition, more than one third of the 117 conflict-related detainees UNAMA interviewed who had been in ANP detention experienced treatment that constituted torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

In situations where torture occurred, it typically took the form of abusive interrogation practices used to obtain confessions from individuals detained on suspicion of crimes against the State, according to the report.

Detainees described experiencing torture in the form of suspension (being hung by the wrists from chains or other devices attached to the wall, ceiling, iron bars or other fixtures for lengthy periods) and beatings, especially with rubber hoses, electric cables or wires or wooden sticks and most frequently on the soles of the feet.

Electric shock, twisting and wrenching of detainees' genitals, stress positions including forced standing, removal of toenails and threatened sexual abuse were among other forms of torture that detainees reported.

Routine blindfolding and hooding and denial of access to medical care in some facilities were also reported. UNAMA documented one death in ANP and NDS custody from torture in Kandahar in April 2011.

"UNAMA found compelling evidence that NDS officials at five facilities systematically tortured detainees for the purpose of obtaining confessions and information," states the report.

It also found that accountability of NDS and ANP officials for torture and abuse is "weak, not transparent and rarely enforced."

The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA pointed out that the report's findings indicate that mistreatment is not an institutional or Government policy.

"The fact that the NDS and MoI [Ministry of Interior] cooperated with UNAMA's detention observation programme suggests that reform is both possible and desired, as does the Government's announced remedial actions to end these abusive practices," said Staffan de Mistura.

"UNAMA welcomes the Government's timely attention to this issue and steps taken to put in place corrective and preventive measures," he added.

The Afghan authorities launched their own investigations and initiated remedial action after the mission presented its initial findings to them. NDS and MoI have stated clearly they have an action plan to address the concerns, started investigations, reassigned personnel in the case of NDS, and have further indicated that responsible individuals will be suspended from their positions and in serious cases, prosecuted.

The report includes a number of recommendations to the NDS, the MoI, the Afghan Government, judicial institutions and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), including calling on the NDS and ANP to take immediate steps to stop and prevent torture and ill-treatment.

In early September, ISAF stopped transferring detainees to 16 installations identified as facilities where UNAMA found compelling evidence of torture and ill-treatment by NDS and ANP officials, and has begun implementing a six-part plan of remedial measures prior to resuming such transfers.

"Torture is one of the most serious human rights violations under international law, a crime under Afghan law, and strictly prohibited under both laws," said Georgette Gagnon, Director of Human Rights for UNAMA.

"Accountability for torture demands prosecutions and the taking of all necessary measures by Afghan authorities to prevent and end such acts in the future."

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 美女被免费网站91色| 亚洲va无码va在线va天堂| 两个人看的www免费视频| 女人18与19毛片免费| 中文字幕在线第二页| 日本理论片午午伦夜理片2021| 亚洲人成无码网站久久99热国产 | 欧美另类xxxx图片| 国产精品极品美女自在线| 99国产欧美久久久精品蜜芽 | 亚洲成a人片在线观看天堂无码| 色视频www在线播放国产人成| 國产一二三内射在线看片| 一二三四社区在线中文视频| 把女人的嗷嗷嗷叫视频软件| 久久人人爽人人爽人人片AV超碰| 最近免费韩国电影hd视频| 亚洲国产精品久久久久婷婷软件| 热狗福利ap青草视频入口在线观看p引导下载花季传媒 | 亚洲精品日韩专区silk| 男女一级做片a性视频| 内射白浆一区二区在线观看| 色狠狠色狠狠综合一区| 国产在线a免费观看| 999在线视频精品免费播放观看| 日产精品1区至六区有限公司| 久久精品国产精品青草| 最新亚洲人成网站在线观看| 亚洲av无码久久忘忧草| 欧美亚洲另类色国产综合| 亚洲国产一区二区三区在线观看 | 亚洲精品无码乱码成人| 燃情仕途小说全文阅读免费无弹窗下载| 凹凸精品视频分类国产品免费| 紫黑粗硬狂喷浓精| 国产大学生真实视频在线| 国产色在线|亚洲| 国产成人综合日韩精品婷婷九月| 色综合久久天天综合| 国产激情小视频| 国产主播在线看|