Military

DATE=04/04/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N/TORTURE

NUMBER=2-288379

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A Special United Nations Investigator on Torture says he is afraid the incidence of torture will rise around the world

in the name of fighting terrorism. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva that the investigator has just submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Commission which documents such cases in more than 80 countries.

TEXT: Dutch human rights expert, Theo Van Boven, says there is already ample evidence that the tragic events of September

11th are undermining human rights around the world. He says many countries, such as Spain, Turkey, Iran and Russia are enacting draconian (Editors: extreme) measures in the name of fighting terrorism.

///VAN BOVEN ACT///

The example set by the United States of the war against terrorism will encourage also others to go all out and there is less

of a tendency, less of a tendency (IS THIS SUPPOSE TO REPEAT?) to monitor that, to get that under control because it is now accepted in a way in the name of fighting terrorism.

///END ACT///

Mr. Van Boven says he does not minimize the serious security problems posed by terrorism. But, he says torturing people

regardless of the circumstances is totally inadmissible and only serves to undermine human rights and democracy. He notes a number of countries are adopting anti-terrorist and national security laws that restrict human rights. For instance, he says,

they infringe on peoples' rights to privacy, rights to legal counsel and rights of appeal.

///2nd VAN BOVEN ACT///

(PLEASE CHECK THIS ACT. SEEMS THERE ARE WORDS MISSING. ACTUALLY CAME IN GARBLED....)

We see already that countries, they transport people because they think that elsewhere they deport people can be better

treated and interrogated than where it is forbidden under their own jurisdiction. And, there are now discussions going on

by serious scholars and politicians, they say "well, the prohibition of torture, it is fine, but if we need certain information to counteract

terrorism, we can take this prohibition a little lightly and make exceptions."

///END ACT///

Mr. Van Boven says the prohibition against torture is absolute and any short-term gains which may arise from torture will be far outweighed by the long-term erosion and loss of human rights.

(Signed)

NEB/LS