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Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Article 1
1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "torture" means any act by which
severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a
person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a
confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected
of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any
reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by
or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other
person acting in an official 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 16
1. Each State Party shall undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction
other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which do not
amount to torture as defined in article I, when such acts are committed by or at the
instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person
acting in an official capacity. In particular, the obligations contained in articles 10, 11,
12 and 13 shall apply with the substitution for references to torture of references to
other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
2. The provisions of this Convention are without prejudice to the provisions of any
other international instrument or national law which prohibits cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment or which relates to extradition or expulsion.
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