Version as at
1 July 2023
Crimes of Torture Act 1989
Schedule 1
capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or
incidental to lawful sanctions.
2.
This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national
legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider application.
Article 2
1.
Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other
measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.
2.
No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat
of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be
invoked as a justification of torture.
3.
An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a
justification of torture.
Article 3
1.
No State Party shall expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite a person to another
State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in
danger of being subjected to torture.
2.
For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent
authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where
applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross,
flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
Article 4
1.
Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its
criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an
act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture.
2.
Each State Party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties
which take into account their grave nature.
Article 5
1.
2.
Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish its
jurisdiction over the offences referred to in article 4 in the following cases:
(a)
When the offences are committed in any territory under its jurisdiction
or on board a ship or aircraft registered in that State;
(b)
When the alleged offender is a national of that State;
(c)
When the victim is a national of that State if that State considers it
appropriate.
Each State Party shall likewise take such measures as may be necessary to
establish its jurisdiction over such offences in cases where the alleged offender
is present in any territory under its jurisdiction and it does not extradite him
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