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Article 14
1. Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains
redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation including the means
for as full rehabilitation as possible. In the event of the death of the victim as a result of an act
of torture, his dependents shall be entitled to compensation.
2. Nothing in this article shall affect any right of the victim or other person to compensation
which may exist under national law.
Article 15
Each State Party shall ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a
result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person
accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made.
Article 16
1. Each State Party shall undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction other acts of
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which do not amount to torture as
defined in article 1, when such acts are committed by or at the instigation of or with the consent
or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. In particular,
the obligations contained in articles 10, 11, 12 and 13 shall apply with the substitution for
references to torture or references to other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
2. The provisions of this Convention are without prejudice to the provisions of any other
international instrument or national law which prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment or which relate to extradition or expulsion.
PART II
Article 17
1. There shall be established a Committee against Torture (hereinafter referred to as the
Committee) which shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided. The Committee shall
consist of ten experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of human
rights, who shall serve in their personal capacity. The experts shall be elected by the States
Parties, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution and to the usefulness
of the participation of some persons having legal experience.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons
nominated by States Parties. Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own
nationals. States Parties shall bear in mind the usefulness of nominating persons who are also
members of the Human Rights Committee established under the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and who are willing to serve on the Committee against Torture.
3. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at biennial meetings of States
Parties convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At those meetings, for which
two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee
shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of
the representatives of States Parties present and voting.
4. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force
of this Convention. At. Ieast four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General
of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit their
nominations within three months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in alphabetical
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