7 Background The UN Convention against Torture The UN Convention against Torture states that torture¹ and ill-treatment are strictly prohibited and that this prohibition can never be violated. States that ratify the convention are obliged to prohibit, prevent and punish all use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. According to the Convention, each State Party shall "ensure that its competent authorities proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation, wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction".² Norway ratified the convention in 1986. The prohibition against torture is laid down in various pieces of Norwegian legislation. Article 93 of the Norwegian Constitution contains a general prohibition against torture. The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2002, and entered into force in 2006. Its objective is to protect people who are deprived of their liberty. People who are deprived of their liberty find themselves in a particularly vulnerable situation, and face an increased risk of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The background to the Optional Protocol was a desire to increase efforts to combat and prevent torture and ill-treatment. OPCAT therefore stipulates new work methods to strengthen these efforts. States that endorse the Optional Protocol are obliged to establish or appoint one or several national preventive mechanisms that regularly carry out visits to places where people are, or may be, deprived of their liberty, in order to strengthen the protection of these people against torture and ill-treatment.³ The national preventive mechanisms can make recommendations to reduce risk factors for violations of integrity. They can also submit proposals and comments concerning existing or draft legislation. The preventive mechanisms must be independent of the authorities and places of detention, have the resources they require at their disposal and have employees with the necessary competence and expertise. — The UN Convention against Torture states that torture and ill-treatment are strictly prohibited and that this prohibition can never be violated. — 1 For the definition of torture, see Article 1 in the UN Convention against Torture (CAT). 2 UN Convention against Torture, article 12. 3 The national preventive mechanisms' tasks are described in Article 19 of the Optional Protocol.