Torture

Introduction

That torture is a serious violation of human rights is well seen in its essence as a factor against both civil and political freedoms. The gravity of torture is seen in it being the one of the first issues to be tackled by the United Nations (UN) in the bid to develop the human rights standard. The development from this effort was exemplified in the abolition of corporal punishment in all colonial territories in 1949. Properly defined, torture is “An act by which severe physical or mental pain or suffering is inflicted on an individual, for the purpose of: extracting a confession; obtaining first or third person information; punishing; coercing; intimidating; or discriminating against the victim.” Torture may also be state sponsored or sanction, when such infliction of pain is carried out with the consent of a public official or any other person acting within his official capacity. This is according to Article 1 of the UN Convention against Torture and Cruel, Degrading or Inhuman Treatment or Punishment.

Though variations exist in the definition of torture among the different international treatises, all acts are considered torture whenever there is: the causing of severe pain or suffering; the act is carried out against a person, intentionally; when the act is inspired by the need to extract a confession, an information, a certain act from the victim, or the need to intimidate, coerce or discriminate against the victim. The participation of a state or public official is also brought into consideration. Torture may take many forms, including: sexual abuse and rape; severe beatings and electrocution; hard labor; hanging for over long periods of time; protracted solitary confinement; partial drowning; near suffocation; and mutilation.

Place an order with us to get a customized paper similar to this or any related topic. NB: The assignment will be done from scratch and it
will be 100% original.