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28 February 2000
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HR/00/19
28 February 2000
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORTS WIDESPREAD AND SYSTEMATIC TORTURE IN CAMEROON
Cameroonian law enforcement officials use torture on a "widespread and systematic basis", according to an expert of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
In a report for the upcoming session of the Commission, which starts on 20 March, the Special Rapporteur on torture, Sir Nigel Rodley, says he reached his conclusion after visiting last May a "large number of places in various parts of the country in which he met people who still showed signs of what could only have been recent physical torture, as well as many others whose testimonies convincingly alleged torture at the time of the first arrest".
The Special Rapporteur says he has no doubt that "torture is condoned if not encouraged at the level of the heads of the places of detention where it takes place". He adds that "if the top leadership of these forces and those politically responsible above them do not know what [his] delegation was able to discover in a few days, it can only be because of a lack of will to know".
The Special Rapporteur observes that "torture is generally used for the standard purpose of obtaining information relevant to the maintenance of law and public order, obtaining confessions to crimes from persons suspected of having committed them and administering instant, extrajudicial punishment". He writes that "neither youth nor age are factors tending to protect persons deprived of their liberty from being inhumanly treated". He also points to "appalling overcrowding" in places of detention and expresses his concern regarding "prisoners' allegations concerning the arbitrariness of the warders (abusive use of disciplinary power and direct resort to physical assault)."
The Special Rapporteur notes, none the less, that the recent adoption in the Cameroonian Criminal Code of a provision criminalizing torture and the recent decision to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to places of detention may indicate a political will to confront the problem.
To address the problem, the Special Rapporteur recommends, among other measures, that "family members and lawyers of persons deprived of liberty have unmonitored access to such persons within 24 hours, or, at most, in exceptional cases, 48 hours", that "major resources be deployed to render the plant and facilities of all places of deprivation of liberty suitable to ensure minimum respect for the humanity and dignity of all who the State deprives of liberty", and that "all non-violent first-time offenders or suspected offenders, especially those under 18 be released and that suspected offender not be deprived of liberty until the prison overpopulation problem has been resolved".
Finally, the Special Rapporteur expresses his concern following the denial of access to a house which reportedly served as a detention centre for people arrested by the special "anti-gang" unit based outside the city of Maroua. According to information he has received, the unit - reportedly under the direct authority of the Minister of State for Defence - is arbitrarily detaining, torturing and summarily executing people suspected of being highway robbers and seems to act with total impunity. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the special "anti-gang" unit, if not disbanded, be brought under effective political and administrative control.
The Special Rapporteur's report (UN document E/CN.4/2000/9/Add.2) is based on his visit to Cameroon from 12 to 20 May last year. Sir Nigel indicates that he received excellent cooperation from the Government and that he was given access to official institutions, including prisons and gendarmerie and police stations in Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam and Bamenda, whether on planned or unannounced visits. He also met with officials, alleged torture victims and representatives of civil society. However, his request to meet the Minister of Defence was not complied with.
28 February 2000
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORTS WIDESPREAD AND SYSTEMATIC TORTURE IN CAMEROON
Cameroonian law enforcement officials use torture on a "widespread and systematic basis", according to an expert of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
In a report for the upcoming session of the Commission, which starts on 20 March, the Special Rapporteur on torture, Sir Nigel Rodley, says he reached his conclusion after visiting last May a "large number of places in various parts of the country in which he met people who still showed signs of what could only have been recent physical torture, as well as many others whose testimonies convincingly alleged torture at the time of the first arrest".
The Special Rapporteur says he has no doubt that "torture is condoned if not encouraged at the level of the heads of the places of detention where it takes place". He adds that "if the top leadership of these forces and those politically responsible above them do not know what [his] delegation was able to discover in a few days, it can only be because of a lack of will to know".
The Special Rapporteur observes that "torture is generally used for the standard purpose of obtaining information relevant to the maintenance of law and public order, obtaining confessions to crimes from persons suspected of having committed them and administering instant, extrajudicial punishment". He writes that "neither youth nor age are factors tending to protect persons deprived of their liberty from being inhumanly treated". He also points to "appalling overcrowding" in places of detention and expresses his concern regarding "prisoners' allegations concerning the arbitrariness of the warders (abusive use of disciplinary power and direct resort to physical assault)."
The Special Rapporteur notes, none the less, that the recent adoption in the Cameroonian Criminal Code of a provision criminalizing torture and the recent decision to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to places of detention may indicate a political will to confront the problem.
To address the problem, the Special Rapporteur recommends, among other measures, that "family members and lawyers of persons deprived of liberty have unmonitored access to such persons within 24 hours, or, at most, in exceptional cases, 48 hours", that "major resources be deployed to render the plant and facilities of all places of deprivation of liberty suitable to ensure minimum respect for the humanity and dignity of all who the State deprives of liberty", and that "all non-violent first-time offenders or suspected offenders, especially those under 18 be released and that suspected offender not be deprived of liberty until the prison overpopulation problem has been resolved".
Finally, the Special Rapporteur expresses his concern following the denial of access to a house which reportedly served as a detention centre for people arrested by the special "anti-gang" unit based outside the city of Maroua. According to information he has received, the unit - reportedly under the direct authority of the Minister of State for Defence - is arbitrarily detaining, torturing and summarily executing people suspected of being highway robbers and seems to act with total impunity. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the special "anti-gang" unit, if not disbanded, be brought under effective political and administrative control.
The Special Rapporteur's report (UN document E/CN.4/2000/9/Add.2) is based on his visit to Cameroon from 12 to 20 May last year. Sir Nigel indicates that he received excellent cooperation from the Government and that he was given access to official institutions, including prisons and gendarmerie and police stations in Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam and Bamenda, whether on planned or unannounced visits. He also met with officials, alleged torture victims and representatives of civil society. However, his request to meet the Minister of Defence was not complied with.