DATE=3/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TORTURE REPORTING HANDBOOK (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260768
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The British government has published a
"Torture Reporting Handbook," the first government-
sponsored manual to help human-rights groups collect
evidence of abuse that help bring the violators to
justice. V-O-A Correspondent Laurie Kassman, in
London, reports human-rights groups say they welcome
the help.
TEXT: Foreign Secretary Robin Cook says the manual
can help researchers gather the necessary information
and hard facts they need to expose torture and other
human-rights abuses. He spoke with reporters at the
launch of the handbook (earlier this week):
/// COOK ACT ///
It [the handbook] will give local human-rights
groups and activists, civil rights lawyers and -
- most important of all -- the victims
themselves the practical guidance and
information they need to turn torture into
testimony, personal experience into public
evidence, individual anguish into international
outrage.
/// END ACT ///
The British government funded the 235-thousand-dollar
project, which was compiled by human-rights
researchers at Britain's Essex University. U-N
agencies and non-government human-rights groups were
consulted on the contents.
A U-N special investigator on human rights, Nigel
Rodley, says the manual covers a wide range of
practical measures.
/// RODLEY ACT ///
It is very much the product of experience:
anything from how to ask questions of people in
vulnerable positions, such as prison, to what
kind of other evidence can be useful in
preparing credible documentation for the
relevant international machinery.
/// END ACT ///
The "Torture Reporting Handbook" lists the
international organizations dealing with torture and
other human-rights abuses, and outlines procedures for
reporting the atrocities.
The spokesperson for Amnesty International's Torture
Research Unit, Maya Catanis, calls the manual a
positive development for the human-rights community.
/// CATANIS ACT ///
It provides people with the knowledge and
expertise on how to report torture accurately.
It makes sure the testimonies fit in with
international standards that can then be used in
a court.
/// END ACT ///
The English version of the 160-page handbook is also
available on the Internet. Copies will soon be
published in French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
(Signed)
NEB/LMK/JWH/WTW
30-Mar-2000 10:52 AM EDT (30-Mar-2000 1552 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
