Special Rapporteur on Torture Concludes Visit to Spain

14 October 2003

The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture, Theo van Boven, has completed a one week fact-finding mission to Spain at the invitation of the Government.
During the mission, conducted from 6 to 10 October, the Special Rapporteur had extensive consultations and received information from governmental authorities, members of the judiciary, members of parliament as well as members and groups of civil society in Madrid, and in Vitoria and Bilbao, in the Basque Autonomous Region.
In accordance with his mandate, Mr. van Boven focused his attention on the treatment of persons arrested, detained and convicted. He also received information concerning the treatment of migrants. Among the issues discussed and examined were the following: practices of torture and ill-treatment, acts of violence and terrorism, incommunicado detention, strengthening safeguards against torture and ill treatment, reparation to victims, preventive measures, prison conditions, the role of the media, application and enforcement of international standards relating to the prohibition, eradication and prevention of torture and combating impunity.
The Special Rapporteur will prepare a report on his visit to Spain which will be presented to the forthcoming 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights which will take place in March-April 2004.
Mr. van Boven was appointed Special Rapporteur in 2001 for three years. This is the second fact-finding mission that he has carried out in his capacity as Special Rapporteur on torture.
Mr. van Boven is a Professor of Law at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands and a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery.