Version as at
1 July 2023
Crimes of Torture Act 1989
Schedule 1
Committee may also include a copy of the report submitted under paragraph 1
of this article.
Article 20
1.
If the Committee receives reliable information which appears to it to contain
well-founded indications that torture is being systematically practised in the
territory of a State Party, the Committee shall invite that State Party to co-oper‐
ate in the examination of the information and to this end to submit observations
with regard to the information concerned.
2.
Taking into account any observations which may have been submitted by the
State Party concerned, as well as any other relevant information available to it,
the Committee may, if it decides that this is warranted, designate one or more
of its members to make a confidential inquiry and to report to the Committee
urgently.
3.
If an inquiry is made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, the Com‐
mittee shall seek the co-operation of the State Party concerned. In agreement
with that State Party, such an inquiry may include a visit to its territory.
4.
After examining the findings of its member or members submitted in accord‐
ance with paragraph 2 of this article, the Commission shall transmit these find‐
ings to the State Party concerned together with any comments or suggestions
which seem appropriate in view of the situation.
5.
All the proceedings of the Committee referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this
article shall be confidential, and at all stages of the proceedings the co-oper‐
ation of the State Party shall be sought. After such proceedings have been
completed with regard to an inquiry made in accordance with paragraph 2, the
Committee may, after consultations with the State Party concerned, decide to
include a summary account of the results of the proceedings in its annual report
made in accordance with article 24.
Article 21
1.
A State Party to this Convention may at any time declare under this article
that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider
communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Party
is not fulfilling its obligations under this Convention. Such communications
may be received and considered according to the procedures laid down in this
article only if submitted by a State Party which has made a declaration recog‐
nizing in regard to itself the competence of the Committee. No communication
shall be dealt with by the Committee under this article if it concerns a State
Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received under
this article shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:
(a)
If a State Party considers that another State Party is not giving effect
to the provisions of this Convention, it may, by written communication,
bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. Within three months
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