Dr Natasa Mavronicola recently visited the United Nations to attend the UN Torture Rapporteur's presentation of a thematic report on the extra-custodial use of force, on which she provided expert advice.
Dr Natasa Mavronicola, Adviser to the UN Torture Rapporteur, recently attended the presentation of the thematic report on the extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (A/72/178) by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Professor Nils Melzer, before the United Nations General Assembly (his remarks can be viewed on UN Web TV). Dr Mavronicola served as Special Adviser to the Rapporteur in the preparation of the report.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Professor Nils Melzer, and Dr Natasa Mavronicola at the UN.
As indicated in the relevant press release, the report highlights that any unnecessary, excessive or otherwise arbitrary use of force by law enforcement officials is incompatible with the absolute prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Additionally, where such force intentionally and purposefully inflicts pain or suffering on powerless persons it is conclusively unlawful, and may amount to torture. This will have considerable implications for policing practices, including training, equipment, and relevant instructions.
Moreover, this entails that certain weapons or riot control devices may be inherently cruel, inhuman or degrading, or (likely to be) used in a cruel, inhuman or degrading manner. As the report specifies, a weapon or device will be inherently cruel, inhuman or degrading, and therefore prohibited, if it is specifically designed, or is of a nature (that is, of no other practical use than) to employ unnecessary, excessive or otherwise arbitrary force, against persons.
You can find Dr Mavronicola’s underpinning research on the right not to be subjected to torture and related ill-treatment on her university profile page.
