Convention Against Torture (CAT)
61 Articles
The Kafala System Disables Workers. International Disability Law Can Hold Saudi Arabia Accountable
The story of a Kenyan domestic worker is one of 15 in the first UN communications challenging the Kafala system under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
In Absentia Trials and the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine
When defendants can be informed of their trial and have a right to a retrial in person, in absentia trials can be legitimate and necessary for victims and society at large.
Fourth Circuit Affirms $42 Million Jury Verdict in Abu Ghraib Case
In Al Shimari, the Fourth Circuit affirmed two Alien Tort Statute claims: conspiracy to commit torture and conspiracy to commit cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
Does the United States Still Oppose Torture?
The U.S. broke with decades of UN consensus by voting against a resolution condemning torture, prompting global concerns about American commitments to human rights.
The Trump Administration’s Recent Removals to El Salvador Violate the Prohibition on Transfer to Torture
US and international law prohibit transferring or removing any person when there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be at risk of certain serious human…
Suing the Taliban at the ICJ Over Abuses of Afghan Women Isn’t a Panacea. Countries Must Do More Now.
Beyond suing the Taliban and awaiting a potential ICJ case, the international community should meaningfully act on women's rights now.
Fair and Fast Asylum Processing: Lessons from Switzerland
The central premise of the successful Swiss reforms – that fairness, contributes, rather than detracts from efficiency – holds valuable lessons for other countries that want…
The ICC’s Use of Evidence Obtained by Torture Sets a Dangerous Precedent
The Court’s recent conviction of Al Hassan undermines the connective tissue binding criminal law to human rights standards.
The `Pinochet Precedent’ at 25: Supporting Justice for Victims with `Universal Jurisdiction’
With the "Pinochet Precedent," the principle of universal jurisdiction can provide justice for victims of other dictatorial regimes.
Syrian Torture Victims Deserve a Hearing Before the ICJ
As the case moves to the next stage, their voices must be central in the case that Canada and the Netherlands have put before the Court.
States Have an Opportunity to Lead on a Torture-Free Trade Treaty
At the global level, no legally binding agreement governs the production of and trade in law enforcement equipment. A new report by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture recommends…
In the Case Against Syria, a New Tool for Enforcing Human Rights
One of the key dilemmas of international law has always been whether and how international law obligations can be enforced against States that refuse to comply. In the case against…