E/CN.4/1994/31
page 3
Introduction
1.
At its forty-first session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted
resolution 1985/33, in which it decided to appoint a special rapporteur
to examine questions relevant to torture. Since then the mandate has
been renewed by Commission resolutions 1986/50, 1987/29, 1988/32, 1990/34
and 1992/32. In resolution 1992/32, the Commission extended the mandate for
a period of three years. In pursuance of these resolutions, the Special
Rapporteur submitted annual reports to the Commission, which are contained in
documents E/CN.4/1986/15, E/CN.4/1987/13, E/CN.4/1988/17 and Add.1,
E/CN.4/1989/15, E/CN.4/1990/17 and Add.1, E/CN.4/1991/17, E/CN.4/1992/17 and
Add.1 and E/CN.4/1993/26.
2.
In its resolution 1993/40, the Commission took note of the resignation
of Mr. P. Kooijmans as Special Rapporteur and requested the Chairman, after
consultations within the Bureau, to appoint an individual of recognized
international standing as his successor. As a result, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley
(United Kingdom) was appointed Special Rapporteur.
3.
In conformity with resolutions 1992/32 and 1993/40, the newly appointed
Special Rapporteur hereby presents his first report to the Commission.
Chapter I deals with a number of aspects pertaining to the mandate and methods
of work. Chapter II consists mainly of a review of the information
transmitted by the Special Rapporteur to Governments, as well as the replies
received, from 15 December 1992 to 15 December 1993. Chapter III contains
conclusions and recommendations.
4.
In addition to the above-mentioned resolutions, several other resolutions
adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-ninth session are also
pertinent within the framework of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and
have been taken into consideration in examining and analysing the information
brought to his attention with regard to the different countries. These
resolutions are, in particular:
(a)
Resolution 1993/41, entitled "Human rights in the administration
of justice", in which the Commission called upon its special rapporteurs
and working groups to give special attention to questions relating to the
effective protection of human rights in the administration of justice, in
particular with regard to unacknowledged detention of persons, and to provide,
wherever appropriate, specific recommendations in this regard, including
proposals for possible concrete measures under advisory services programmes;
(b)
Resolution 1993/45, entitled "Right to freedom of opinion and
expression", in which the Commission invited the special rapporteurs to pay
attention, within the framework of their mandates, to the situation of persons
detained, subjected to violence, ill-treated or discriminated against for
having exercised this right.
(c)
Resolution 1993/46, entitled "Integrating the rights of women into
the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations", in which the Commission
requested all its special rapporteurs and working groups to include regularly
and systematically in their reports available information on human rights
violations affecting women;