E/CN.4/2002/76 page 2 Introduction 1. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on torture, assigned since April 1993 to Sir Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom), was renewed for three more years by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2001/62. In conformity with that resolution, the Special Rapporteur hereby submits his ninth report to the Commission. Chapter I deals with aspects of the mandate and methods of work. Chapter II summarizes his activities in 2000. A summary of communications sent by the Special Rapporteur from 15 December 2000 to 12 November 2001 (date of Sir Nigel’s resignation from the mandate of Special Rapporteur on torture), as well as a summary of replies from Governments thereto from 15 December 2000 to 1 December 2001, may be found in addendum 1 to the present report. 2. In addition to the above-mentioned resolution, several other resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-seventh session are also pertinent within the framework of the mandate and have been taken into consideration by the Special Rapporteur in examining and analysing the information brought to his attention. These resolutions are, in particular: 2001/39, “Independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors and the independence of lawyers”; 2001/40, “Question of arbitrary detention”; 2001/45, “Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions”; 2001/46, “Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances”; 2001/47, “The right to freedom of opinion and expression”; 2001/49, “Elimination of violence against women”; 2001/54, “Internally displaced persons”; 2001/64, “Human rights defenders”; 2001/70, “Impunity”; and decision 2001/105, “Right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. I. MANDATE AND METHODS OF WORK 3. No mandate-related issues have arisen during the year under review. The methods of work of the Special Rapporteur have been those followed previously. In particular, he has continued to seek cooperation with holders of other Commission mandates to avoid duplication of activity in respect of country-specific initiatives. Thus, he has sent urgent appeals, transmitted information alleging violations within his mandate to Governments and sought missions to Member States in conjunction with the following mechanisms: the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the independence of judges and lawyers; the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; violence against women, its causes and consequences; and the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Special Representative of the Commission on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders. 4. In paragraph 9 of its resolution 2001/62, the Commission on Human Rights invited the Special Rapporteur to study the situation of trade and production in equipment which is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, its origin, destination and forms, with a view to finding the best ways to prohibit such trade and production and to combat its proliferation, and report thereon to the Commission on Human Rights. Accordingly, on 7 August 2001, a note verbale was sent to all Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva, to international organizations, as well as relevant

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