CAT: A Study on Bangladesh Compliance and the BNHRC – Capacity Development Project. To meet the doctrinal thrust of this project, throughout the report, we have focused less on ‘primary’ knowledge-construction than on the analysis of key legal discourses in the field; hence the report is based mostly on secondary data. 3. Overview of the CAT Torture is universally condemned, and whatever its actual practice, no country publicly supports torture or opposes its eradication.1 Therefore, one of the most fundamental aspects of human rights law is the universal proscription of torture. This sentiment is well-reflected in the ICCPR.2 The General Assembly of the UN adopted in 1975 the Declaration on Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Punishment3 and later, in 1977 the General Assembly (GA) mandated the UN Commission on Human Rights to draft a convention against torture.4 Accordingly, the drafting commenced in 1978, and finally in 1984, the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1 2 3 4 M Rahman and S Islam, “Obligation of Bangladesh under Article 4 of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,” Bangladesh Journal of Law 10, no. 1 & 2 (2006): 119. Article 7 of the ICCPR GA Res. 34/52, UN GAOR, 39th session, Supp. No. 34, UN Doc. A/10034 (1975). See, GA Res. 32/62, UN GAOR, 32nd session, supp. No. 45, UN Doc. A/32/355 (1977). 21