(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Vice-Chair of the UN Committee Against Torture, Erdogan Iscan, explained this in an interview with Ukrinform

“The Convention also requires that the respondent State recognize the competence of the Committee under article 20 by making a declaration while ratifying the Convention. Article 20 provides that if the Committee receives reliable reports that a State may be practising torture systematically, it can ask that State for information and cooperation,” Iscan said.

He noted that after reviewing the facts, the Committee may conduct a confidential inquiry, even visit the country, and subsequently submit its findings and recommendations to the government.

“The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics had not recognized the competence of the Committee against Torture as defined by article 20 of the Convention. On 12 September 2003, Ukraine decided to withdraw the reservation under Article 20. Thus, Ukraine recognizes the competence of the Committee under Article 20 if it is made against Ukraine. The Russian Federation has not withdrawn the reservation, thus the Committee cannot launch an inquiry as defined in article 20 in respect of Russia,” explained the Vice-Chair of the UN Committee Against Torture.

According to him, Russia has previously undergone review and will again appear before the Committee as part of the regular periodic review procedure at the designated time.

He also mentioned other international and regional mechanisms through which states are held accountable for failing to comply with international law, including the intergovernmental UN Human Rights Council, the independent special procedures established by the Human Rights Council, and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which make a significant contribution to assessing the human rights situation on the ground.

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The diplomat emphasized that freedom from torture and ill-treatment is a right that cannot be limited under any circumstances. He added that information on whether Ukraine has submitted requests to the Committee to initiate an investigation against Russia is confidential and not subject to disclosure.

As reported by Ukrinform, at the end of September this year, Russia withdrew from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In addition, Protocols No. 1 and No. 2 to the Convention, signed on behalf of Russia on 28 February 1996 in Strasbourg and ratified on 28 March 1998, were also denounced.

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