The absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment extends beyond places of deprivation of liberty; it also applies in extra-custodial settings including during protests and other assemblies.
Yet, the management of protests is all too often characterised by violent repression and excessive use of force to discriminate, intimidate or punish those exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. These practices go hand in hand with the lack of training of law enforcement officials and the inappropriate use of a growing range of less-lethal weapons, resulting in severe, long-lasting physical or psychological harm, or even death.
This policy paper outlines practical and essential measures that States should adopt, supported by country-specific examples of good practice to prevent these violations, ensure access to justice and provide reparation, including rehabilitation, to victims.
The paper draws on the collective expertise of the UATC Working Group on Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in the Context of Protests and Other Assemblies, a diverse, global group of experts and civil society representatives as well as the UATC Task Force composed of representatives from the six organisations that form the UATC.
UATC is an EU-funded project that pools the strengths and expertise of six international anti-torture organisations, in partnership with over 200 civil society organisations and other partners in 100+ countries, to strengthen and expand torture prevention, protection, rehabilitation and strategic litigation.
