E/CN.4/1996/35
page 4
Introduction
1.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on torture, assigned since
April 1993 to Mr. Nigel S. Rodley (United Kingdom), was renewed for three more
years by the Commission in its resolution 1995/37 B. In conformity with this
resolution the Special Rapporteur hereby presents his third 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 20 December 1994 to 15 December 1995. Chapter III
contains conclusions and recommendations.
2.
In addition to the above-mentioned resolution, several other resolutions
adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-first session are also
pertinent to 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 1995/24, entitled "Rights of persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities", in which the
Commission urged the special rapporteurs, within their respective mandates,
to continue to give due regard to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons
Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities;
(b)
Resolution 1995/40, on the promotion of the 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 the right to freedom of opinion and
expression;
(c)
Resolution 1995/41, entitled "Human rights and the administration
of justice, in particular of children and juveniles in detention", in which
the Commission called upon the special rapporteurs to continue to provide,
wherever appropriate, specific recommendations relating to the effective
protection of human rights in the administration of justice;
(d)
Resolution 1995/43, entitled "Human rights and terrorism", in which
the Commission urged all thematic special rapporteurs to address as
appropriate the consequences of the acts, methods and practices of terrorist
groups in their reports to the Commission;
(e)
Resolution 1995/53, entitled "Advisory Services and the Voluntary
Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights", in which the
Commission invited the special rapporteurs to continue to include in their
recommendations, whenever appropriate, proposals for specific projects to be
realized under the programme of advisory services;
(f)
Resolution 1995/57, entitled "Internally displaced persons", in
which the Commission called upon relevant rapporteurs, in accordance with
their mandates, to seek information on situations which had already created or
could lead to internal displacement;