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General Comment No. 20: Prohibition of Torture and Cruel Treatment or Punishment
Category: Human Security
The Human Rights Committee regularly publishes its interpretation of the content of human rights provision contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the form of General Comments. The Committee's "General Comment No. 20: Prohibition of Torture and Cruel Treatment or Punishment" was published in 1992 in order to elaborate on Article 7 of the Convention, which prohibits the use of torture and cruel treatment or punishment. According to this General Comment, the States parties are obligated to "afford everyone protection through legislative and other measures as may be necessary against the acts prohibited by article 7, whether inflicted by people acting in their official capacity, outside their official capacity or in a private capacity," including during instances of public emergency. The General Comment also specifies that the acts prohibited in article 7 refer both to physical and mental suffering, and it highlights the right of individuals to "lodge complaints against maltreatment" domestically.
Human Rights Committee, “General Comment No. 20: Prohibition of Torture and Cruel Treatment or Punishment,” (1992)
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