ICCPR Recommendations 2024, paragraph 25

Reiterating the Committee’s previous recommendations, the Committee urges the State party to review its legislation, including the Criminal Justice Act 1988, with a view to ensuring that any possible defences for torture are repealed, in accordance with article 7 of the Covenant and other internationally accepted standards. Furthermore, the State party should continue its efforts to ensure that all individuals considered to have “lawful authority” receive the proper guidance, training and oversight to ensure that torture and other forms of ill-treatment are never used purposefully or incidentally within the United Kingdom or in territories under its jurisdiction. In that regard, the State party should strengthen the training on human rights provided to judges, prosecutors, lawyers and law enforcement officials, including on the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information-Gathering (the Méndez Principles).