The United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) is the only legally
binding convention at the universal level concerned exclusively with the eradication of torture. The main objective of the Convention is to lay down obligations on States Parties to establish and exercise jurisdiction over the crime of
torture. The Convention furthermore imposes significant obligations on
States to take measures to prevent torture and to facilitate redress to torture
victims and survivors.
The Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), in publishing this Handbook, aims to provide easily accessible, yet comprehensive information about
the substantive provisions of the Convention to people concerned with the
issue of torture, be it in a professional or a private capacity. The Handbook is
a useful reference for NGOs in the understanding of the UN Convention
against Torture, as well as a tool by relevant national and international actors
in the implementation of the obligations assumed by the States Parties.
Founded in 1977
by Jean-Jacques Gautier
Route de Ferney 10 Case postale 2267 CH-1211 Genève 2
Tél (4122) 919 21 70 Fax (4122) 919 21 80 E-mail apt@apt.ch
Internet www.apt.ch CCP 12-21656-7 Genève