International standards on torture

I. Treaties

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
• Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and its 1967 Protocol (Principle of non-refoulement).
• Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions
• Customary Rule 90 of the International Committee of the Red Cross
• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

II. Resolutions

• Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - General Assembly resolution 3452 (XXX) of 9 December 1975
• Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: the roles and responsibilities of police and other law enforcement officials – Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/46/L.27
• Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment – General Assembly resolution A/RES/70/146
• Kyoto declaration on advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - A/CONF.234/L.6
• Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: mandate of the Special Rapporteur – Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/16/L.12/Rev.1
• Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment – General Assembly resolution A/RES/68/156
• Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers – Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/43/1
• Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: mandate of the Special Rapporteur – Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/25/13

III. Guidelines, Principles and Protocols

• Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (1977)
• The Nelson Mandela Rules (2015): The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners

• Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners (1990)
• Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (1988)
• Istanbul Protocol (2000): Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1982)
• Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (1979)
• Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990)
• Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993)
• United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of the Liberty (1990)
• United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice - Beijing Rules (1985)
• The United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty - Havana Rules (1990)
• The Tokyo Rules (1990): The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures
• The Riyadh Guidelines (1990): The United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency

• The Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (1985)

• The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990)
• The Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors (1990)
• The Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System (1997)
• The Istanbul Protocol (1999): Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• The Bangkok Rules (2010): The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Noncustodial Measures for Women Offenders
• The United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems (2012)