E/CN.4/1993/26
page 4
Introduction
1.
At its forty-first session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted
resolution 1985/33, in which it decided to appoint a special rapporteur to
examine questions relevant to torture.
2.
On 12 May 1985, the Chairman of the Commission appointed
Mr. Peter Kooijmans (Netherlands) Special Rapporteur, who, in pursuance
of Commission resolutions 1985/33, 1986/50, 1987/29, 1988/32, 1989/33, 1990/34
and 1991/38, submitted reports E/CN.4/1986/15, E/CN.4/1987/13, E/CN.4/1988/17
and Add.1, E/CN.4/1989/15, E/CN.4/1990/17 and Add.1, E/CN.4/1991/17 and
E/CN.4/1992/17 and Add.1) to the Commission at its forty-second, forty-third,
forty-forth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth, forty-seventh and forty-eighth sessions
respectively.
3.
In its resolution 1992/32 the Commission decided to extend the mandate of
the Special Rapporteur for a further three years, while maintaining the annual
reporting cycle, in order to enable him to submit further conclusions and
recommendations to the Commission. It also decided that the Special
Rapporteur, in carrying out his mandate, should continue to seek and receive
credible and reliable information from Governments, the specialized agencies,
and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
4.
In conformity with Commission resolution 1992/32 the Special Rapporteur
hereby presents his eighth report to the Commission. Chapter I of the report
deals with a number of aspects pertaining to the Special Rapporteur's mandate
and methods of work. Chapter II consists mainly of a review of the
information transmitted by the Special Rapporteur to Governments and the
replies received thereon up to 14 December 1992. Chapter III contains
information on follow-up visits made by the Special Rapporteur in the past, as
well as on the visit carried out to the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
Chapter IV contains conclusions and recommendations.
5.
In addition to resolution 1992/32, several other resolutions of the
Commission on Human rights are also pertinent within the framework of the
mandate of the Special Rapporteur and have been taken into consideration in
examining and analysing the information brought to his attention. These
resolutions are, in particular,
(a)
Resolution 1992/22, entitled "Right to freedom of opinion
expression", in which the Commission invited its Special Rapporteurs
particular attention, within the framework of their mandates, to the
of persons detained, ill-treated or discriminated against for having
the right to freedom of opinion and expression";
and
"to pay
situation
exercised
(b)
Resolution 1992/31, entitled "Human rights in the administration of
justice", in which the Commission called upon its special rapporteurs and
working groups "to give special attention to questions relating to the
effective protection of human rights in the administration of justice, in
particular with regard to unacknowledged detention of persons, and to provide,
wherever appropriate, specific recommendations in this regard, including
proposals for possible concrete measures under advisory services programmes";