E/CN.4/1992/17
page 1
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.
2.
On 12 May 1985, the Chairman of the Commission appointed
Mr. Peter Kooijmans (Netherlands) Special Rapporteur, who, in pursuance
of Commission resolutions 1985/33, 1986/50, 1987/29, 1988/32, 1989/33
and 1990/34, submitted reports (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.l and E/CN.4/1991/17) to
the Commission at its forty-second, forty-third, forty-forth, forty-fifth,
forty-sixth and forty-seventh sessions respectively.
3.
In its resolution 1990/34 the Commission decided to extend the mandate of
the Special Rapporteur for a further two years, while maintaining the annual
reporting cycle, in order to enable him to submit further conclusions and
recommendations to the Commission.
4.
At its forty-seventh session, the Commission had before it the sixth
report of the Special Rapporteur (E/CN.4/1991/17 and Add.l), prepared in
pursuance of its resolution 1990/34, and adopted resolution 1991/38, in
which it decided that the Special Rapporteur, in carrying out his mandate,
should continue to seek and receive credible and reliable information from
Governments, the specialized agencies, and intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations.
5.
In conformity with Commission resolutions 1990/34 and 1991/38 the
Special Rapporteur hereby presents his seventh report to the Commission.
Chapter I of the report deals with a number of aspects pertaining to the
Special Rapporteur's mandate and methods of work. Chapter II consists of the
correspondence between the Special Rapporteur and Governments of States with
regard to which detailed information alleging the practice of torture has been
received. This chapter describes, in a summarized form, communications from
the Special Rapporteur to Governments, including both urgent appeals and
letters, and Governments' replies thereto received up to 16 December 1991.
Chapter III contains information on follow-up visits made by the Special
Rapporteur in the past. Chapter IV contains conclusions and recommendations.