Danish Statement for the interactive dialogue with the mandate holders on prevention of torture

Delivered by: Marie-Louise Koch Wegter, Deputy Permanent Representative

Thank you for the floor and for the opportunity to engage with each of the mandate holders, whose work is crucial in our common fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Denmark is a dedicated ally in this fight.

[Professor Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture]

Professor Melzer, Denmark would like to start by thanking you for your continued efforts in the field of the fight against torture.

In your most recent report, you focus on state accountability and argue that there are important challenges to accountability both within the political as well as within the legal sphere. You specifically mention an accountability gap. Denmark is among a large group of states supporting the NGO-consortium The International Accountability Platform for Belarus which collect, verify and preserve documentation and evidence of torture among other serious violations of international human rights law committed in Belarus since august 2020. In support of the OHCHR examination of Belarus, the aim of the Platform is to hold the Belarusian responsible for these violations by facilitating criminal investigations and proceedings in future jurisdictions.

Building on this, Denmark would like to ask you, Professor Melzer:

With the aim of holding states accountable for their use of torture, what are the greatest challenges in ensuring that relevant and credible evidence is collected?

[Ms. Claude Heller, chairperson of the UN Committee against Torture]

Ms. Heller, Denmark would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your work for the Committee and for your cooperation with us.

As reflected in today’s dialogue, the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law, and an absolute right. As also reflected in a large number of international conventions. In order to keep us all accountable we appreciate your and the committees efforts to continuously keep the fight against torture high on the international agenda. Since the cross regional “Convention against Torture Initiative” (CTI) was taken in 2014, 18 countries have ratified UNCAT. But more work is needed.

To this end, we continue to consider the reporting process an extremely important mechanism, as it gives an opportunity for states to examine ourselves and state our views on preventing torture and other ill-treatment publicly. In this regard, Denmark would like to ask you, Ms. Heller:

What do you and the committee see as the main challenges for states in implementing UNCAT?

[Ms. Suzanne Jabbour, Chairperson, Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture]

Ms. Jabbour, Denmark wishes to extend a wholeheartedly thanks to both you and the dedicated members of the SPT. We note with great appreciation the ever-increasing number of State Parties to the Optional Protocol. Ratifying the Optional Protocol is an important part in the fight against and the prevention of torture.

However, Denmark seriously regret that several States are significantly overdue with their obligations under article 17 to establish national preventive mechanisms. In order to push for further cooperation with states in this situation, we would like to ask you, Ms. Jabbour:

What are the main obstacles expressed by states in establishing a national preventive mechanism, and to which extent are experiences shared between OPCAT members establishing NPMs?

Thank you very much to all three of you