Paris- Geneve, November 13, 2002 - On the Occasion of the 29th session of the United Nations Committee against Torture and its consideration of the Egyptian government report on Torture, the Human Rights Center for the Assistance of Prisoners (HRCAP) presented an alternative report, supported by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and World Organisation against torture (OMCT):

On November 1st, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, examining Egypt’s report focused in its concluding observations on “the persistence of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment at the hands of law-enforcement personnel, in particular the security services whose recourse to such practices appears to display a systematic pattern. It is also concerned at the general lack of investigations into such practices, punishment of those responsible, and reparation for the victims”.

In 1999, the CAT issued a number of recommendations to the Egyptian government, including prosecution of perpetrators, specific protection to women, proper registration of detainees, continued policy of upgrading prison facilities, and providing the Committee with information on number and circumstances of deaths in custody over the past five years as well as a declaration in favour of articles 21 and 22 of the Convention. However, the HRCAP report demonstrates that the State of emergency in Egypt, since 1981, facilitates the occurrence of torture in Egypt. The report gives further evidence of the continuing systematic use of torture in Egypt. The FIDH and the HRCAP are very concerned with the lack of investigation and prosecution of those responsible for acts of torture, leading to wide impunity. Our organisations reiterate the demand for full implementation of the CAT and CCPR recommendations. The FIDH and the HRCAP urges Egypt to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

On the Occasion of the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT), the Human Rights Center for the Assistance of Prisoners is launching the second step of its local and international campaign “ Hand in Hand combating torture in Egypt” for the coming year.

Human Rights Center for the Assistant of Prisone:

The Human Rights Center for the Assistance of Prisoners (HRCAP) was established in 1997 as a non-political, non-profit civil company. It aims to provide legal assistance to prisoners and to advocate for the reform of prisons so that they become places of correction and rehabilitation.

The HRCAP Campaign combating torture in Egypt during 2002 already succeeded in:

1- Document and focusing on the Legal provisions that encourage on the spread of Torture in Egypt.

2- Employing new methods to introduce the dangerous impact of the Phenomenon of Torture. (Such as the Cinema).

3- Creating new cadres of young lawyers who are interested in the field of human rights and they are willing to eliminate the phenomenon of Torture.

For further information: http://www.hrcap.org
Press contact: 33 6 13 59 48 49