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: 国产国产人免费人成免费视频| 99在线免费视频| 成人看片黄在线观看| 性做久久久久久久久| 亚洲国产天堂久久综合| 美国经典三级版在线播放| 成人午夜精品无码区久久| 亚洲欧洲日产国码www| 老师我好爽再深一点的视频| 国产精品视频a| 三级免费黄色片| 校霸把学霸往死里做| 十八在线观观看免费视频| 日本最新免费网站| 女人张开腿男人猛桶视频| 久久精品无码专区免费青青| 男人添女人30分钟免费| 国产免费黄色大片| 87午夜伦伦电影理论片| 成人毛片免费观看视频在线 | 人人干人人干人人干| 青青青亚洲精品国产| 国产精品香蕉成人网在线观看| 三级黄色小视频| 我想看一级毛片| 么公的又大又深又硬视频| 波多野结衣爱爱| 台湾香港澳门三级在线| 韩国福利影视一区二区三区| 在线观看日韩一区| 中文字幕天天干| 日韩视频中文字幕| 亚洲综合国产成人丁香五月激情 | 欧美性生交xxxxx久久久| 免费看电视电影| 青娱乐在线视频盛宴| 国产精品无码一本二本三本色| www.亚洲日本| 无码h黄肉3d动漫在线观看| 亚洲AV第一成肉网| 永久免费无内鬼放心开车|