UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan E. Méndez’s report focusing on the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs) 

[Source: Notes were extracted from the information communicated by the American University Washington College of Law Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law’s Anti-Torture Initiative (ATI) to its networks.]

The publication of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and punishment, Juan E. Méndez (SRT) latest thematic report focusing on the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs) as they relate to legal standards pertaining to torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. The report, which will be presented during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, is intended as a contribution to the ongoing review process of the SMRs, which is being led by the UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNDOC), and involves the active participation of many States and civil society organizations.

The report reflects on several areas that are being targeted for review and analyzes their relationship with the international prohibition of torture and ill-treatment by identifying procedural standards and safeguards that States are obliged to implement in this respect. It is the SRT’s hope that the report will contribute meaningfully to the progressive development of the SMRs and help expand their implementation as related to the prevention of torture and ill-treatment worldwide.

The full report is available on the ATI website (www.antitorture.org/sm) where you will also be able to monitor the progress of the report and its presentation to the General Assembly, read the latest news related to the report and the ongoing SMR review process, and accesses other relevant information. The SRT and the ATI would also like to encourage you to share your comments and reactions to the report with us, as well as the different ways in which you and/or your organization have incorporated the SMRs in your human rights and anti-torture work.

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Click SMR_Report_August_2013 to see the PDF copy of the report

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