E/CN.4/1999/61
page 4
Introduction
1.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on torture, assigned since
April 1993 to Mr. Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom), was renewed for three more
years by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1998/38. In
conformity with this resolution, the Special Rapporteur hereby presents his
sixth report to the Commission. Chapter I deals with aspects of the mandate
and methods of work. Chapter II summarizes his activities during 1997.
Chapter III contains a summary of communications sent by the Special
Rapporteur and replies from Governments, from 6 December 1997 to
10 December 1998.
2.
In addition to the above-mentioned resolutions, several other
resolutions adopted or reaffirmed by the Commission on Human Rights at its
fifty-fourth 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: 1998/18, “Implementation of the Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on
Religion or Belief”; 1998/19, “Rights of persons belonging to national or
ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities”; 1998/26, “Racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”; 1998/35, “Independence
and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors and the independence
of lawyers”; 1998/39, “Human rights in the administration of justice, in
particular of children and juveniles in detention”; 1998/40, “Question of
enforced or involuntary disappearances”; 1998/41, “Question of arbitrary
detention”; 1998/42, “Right to freedom of opinion and expression”;
1998/47, “Human rights and terrorism”; 1998/50, “Internally displaced
persons”; 1998/52, “The elimination of violence against women”; 1998/68,
“Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions”; 1998/74, “Human rights and
thematic procedures”; 1998/76, “Rights of the child”.
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,
as approved most recently by the Commission in its resolution 1998/38,
paragraph 24, and by the General Assembly in its resolution 53/139,
paragraph 12. In particular, he has continued seeking to cooperate with
holders of other Commission mandates to avoid duplication of activity in
respect of country-specific initiatives. Thus, he has sent urgent appeals or
transmitted information alleging violations within his mandate to Governments,
or sought a joint mission to Member States in conjunction with the following
mechanisms: the Working Groups on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and
on Arbitrary Detention, and the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary
or arbitrary executions; the independence of judges and lawyers; freedom of
opinion and expression; violence against women; the Sudan; the Democratic
Republic of the Congo; Nigeria; and Burundi.
4.
Of course, such joint activities depend on the mechanisms being in
possession of the relevant information which, in turn, depends on effective
communication between the relevant staff of the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights. In this respect, the Special Rapporteur