The convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1984. It places an obligation on the states parties to take all suitable measures to prevent and punish acts of torture. Persons in detention are to be protected against attacks on their physical and mental integrity.

The convention

• prohibits torture in all circumstances
• prohibits the extradition of persons to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that that he or she would be in danger of being subjected to torture (non-refoulment principle).
• provides a detailed definition of torture
• regulates the punishment or extradition of torturers
• regulates the prevention and clarification of cases of torture

A Committee against Torture monitors implementation of the Conventions in the states parties. They submit reports to the Committee at regular intervals. Besides this, they can declare that they recognize the competence of the Committee to receive complaints from states or individual persons.

At present there are 145 states parties to the Convention against Torture. Switzerland ratified the convention on 2 December 1985 and recognizes both the inter-state and the individual complaints mechanisms.

On 18 December 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which provides for national and international bodies to regularly visit and examine detention centres. It entered into force on 22 June 2006 and has been acceded to by 25 states parties.