What is the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)?

The International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (or CAT for short) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1984. It is an international agreement that sets out a legal standard to help protect individuals from torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The CAT applies to all signatories, including the United States and Florida, and is intended to ensure that governments take appropriate steps to prevent torture and inhumane treatment from occurring. The CAT outlines a set of standards for the humane treatment of individuals and specifies certain acts of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment as strictly prohibited. In particular, the CAT establishes that no person shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, regardless of the circumstances or reasons. It stipulates that signatories must investigate and prosecute cases of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and that victims must be properly compensated. Further, the Convention obligates signatories to take steps to ensure these standards are adhered to. In addition, the CAT also obligates signatories to open their territories to inspection and to allow independent monitors to observe conditions inside prisons and other detention facilities. In recent years, the CAT has increasingly been cited in courts around the world to hold governments accountable for failing to meet their obligations under the Convention. In Florida and around the world, the CAT serves as an important tool for providing much needed protections from torture and inhumane treatment.

Related FAQs

What is the International Law of State Responsibility for Internationally Wrongful Acts?
What is the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?
What is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)?
What is the International Law of the Sea?
What is the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in international law?
What is the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)?
How does international law affect domestic legal systems?
What is the International Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UNWC)?
What is the International Law of State Responsibility for Internationally Wrongful Acts?
What is the International Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC)?

What is the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts