COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
24th Session
1-19 May 2000
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES
UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION
Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture
United States of America
175. The Committee considered the initial report of the United States of America
(CAT/C/28/Add.5) at its 424th, 427th and 431st meetings, on 10, 11 and 15 May
2000 (CAT/C/SR.424, 427 and 431), and adopted the following conclusions and
recommendations.
1. Introduction
176. The Committee welcomes the submission of the comprehensive initial report
of the United States of America, which, although almost five years overdue,
was prepared in full accordance with the guidelines of the Committee.
177. The Committee also thanks the State party for its sincere cooperation in
its dialogue with the Committee and takes note of the information supplied in
the extensive oral report.
2. Positive aspects
178. The Committee particularly welcomes the following:
(a) The extensive legal protection against torture and other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment that exists in the State party and the
efforts pursued by the authorities to achieve transparency of its institutions
and practices;
(b) The broad legal recourse to compensation for victims of torture, whether
or not such torture occurred in the United States of America;
(c) The introduction of executive regulations preventing refoulement of potential
torture victims;
(d) The State party's contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for
the Victims of Torture;
(e) The creation by executive order of an inter-agency working group to ensure
coordination of federal efforts towards compliance with the obligations of the
international human rights treaties to which the United States of America is
a party;
(f) The assurances given by the delegation that a universal criminal jurisdiction
is assumed by the State party whenever an alleged torturer is found within its
territory;
(g) The obviously genuine assurances of cooperation to ensure the observance
of the Convention extended to the Committee by the delegation of the State party.
3. Subjects of concern
179. The Committee expresses its concern about:
(a) The failure of the State party to enact a federal crime of torture in terms
consistent with article 1 of the Convention;
(b) The reservation lodged to article 16, in violation of the Convention, the
effect of which is to limit the application of the Convention;
(c) The number of cases of police ill-treatment of civilians, and ill-treatment
in prisons (including instances of inter-prisoner violence). Much of this ill-treatment
by police and prison guards seems to be based upon discrimination;
(d) Alleged cases of sexual assault upon female detainees and prisoners by law
enforcement officers and prison personnel. Female detainees and prisoners are
also very often held in humiliating and degrading circumstances;
(e) The use of electro-shock devices and restraint chairs as methods of constraint,
which may violate the provisions of article 16 of the Convention;
(f) The excessively harsh regime of the "supermaximum" prisons;
(g) The use of "chain gangs", particularly in public;
(h) The legal action by prisoners seeking redress, which has been significantly
restricted by the requirement of physical injury as a condition for bringing
a successful action under the Prison Litigation Reform Act;
(i) The holding of minors (juveniles) with adults in the regular prison population.
4. Recommendations
180. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Although it has taken many measures to ensure compliance with the provisions
of the Convention, also enact a federal crime of torture in terms consistent
with article 1 of the Convention and withdraw its reservations, interpretations
and understandings relating to the Convention;
(b) Take such steps as are necessary to ensure that those who violate the Convention
are investigated, prosecuted and punished, especially those who are motivated
by discriminatory purposes or sexual gratification;
(c) Abolish electro-shock stun belts and restraint chairs as methods of restraining
those in custody; their use almost invariably leads to breaches of article 16
of the Convention;
(d) Consider declaring in favour of article 22 of the Convention;
(e) Ensure that minors (juveniles) are not held in prison with the regular prison
population;
(f) Submit the second periodic report by 19 November 2001.