Appendix III: Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture
| Published date | 01 June 1992 |
| Date | 01 June 1992 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/016934419201000213 |
| Subject Matter | Part C: Appendices |
Appendix III/Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture
APPENDIX
III
INTER·AMERICAN CONVENTION TO PREVENT AND PUNISH
TORTURE
The American .Statessignatory to the present Convention,
Aware
of
the provision of the AmericanConvention on Human Rights that
no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading
punishment or treatment;
Reaffirming that all acts of tortureor any other cruel,inhuman, or degrading
treatment or punishment constitute an offense against human dignity and a
denial of the principles set forth in the Charterof the Organizationof American
States and in the Charter of the United Nations and are violations of the
fundamental human rights and freedoms proclaimed in the American Declara-
tion of the Rights and Duties of Man and the Universal Declarationof Human
Rights;
Notingthat, in order for the pertinentrules contained in the aforementioned
global and regional instruments to take effect,
it
is necessary to draft an Inter-
American Convention that prevents and punishes torture;
Reaffirming theirpurpose of consolidating in this hemisphere the conditions
that make for recognition of and respect for the inherentdignity of man, and
ensure the full exercise of his fundamental rights and freedoms,
Have agreed upon the following:
Article 1
The States Parties undertake to prevent and punish torture in accordance with
the terms of this Convention.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Convention, torture shall be understood to be any act
intentionally performed whereby physical or mental pain or suffering is
inflicted on a person for purposes of criminal investigation, as a means of
intimidation, as personal punishment, as a preventive measure,as a penalty, or
for any other purpose. Torture shall also be understood to be the use of
methods upon a person intended to obliterate the personality of the victim or
to diminish his physical or mental capacities, even if they do not causephysical
pain or mental anguish.
245
To continue reading
Request your trial