In May 2013, the UN Committee against Torture will question UK Ministers and officials about the UK’s compliance with the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT). In advance of this hearing, JUSTICE has written to the committee to raise our concern that a number of key issues continue to undermine the UK’s commitment to UNCAT, including the international prohibition on torture. These include:
- the expansion of the use of secret evidence in closed material procedures in the Justice and Security Bill
- the failure to fully investigate allegations that the UK has been complicit in torture
- the deportation of people to countries known to torture, subject to diplomatic assurances (highlighted in the case of Abu Qatada)