What is Torture?
The CAT [iii] definition is the most widely applicable. It reads:
"...the term
'torture' means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or
mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining
from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an
act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or
intimidating or coercing him or a third person for any reason based on
discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at
the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or
other person acting in an official capacity."
(Article I, United
Nations Convention Against Torture, 1984)
""torture is defined as the deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of
physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the
orders of any authority to force another person to yield information, to make a
confession, or for any other reason."
(World Medical
Association, Declaration of Tokyo, 1975)
This can be broken down into the following elements:
1. Severe physical or mental pain or suffering
2. Intentionally inflicted
3. For purposes such as:
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