Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)

CAT is an international human rights treaty adopted in 1984. The UK ratified (agreed to follow) CAT in 1988.

By ratifying CAT, the UK agrees to prevent acts of torture in connection with activities that include:

• returning, expelling or extraditing someone to another country where there are real grounds to believe he or she will face torture
• arrest, detention and imprisonment
• interrogation
• the training of police (civil or military), medical staff, public officials and anyone else who may be involved in the arrest, detention and questioning of a person

How the treaty is monitored

The implementation of CAT is monitored by the United Nations (UN) Committee Against Torture. Around every five years, the Committee reviews how well each state is putting into practice the rights in CAT. Find out more about the previous review cycles.

There are six stages to the treaty cycle – see CAT treaty cycle below for further information about each stage.

Engagement and participation

Civil society organisations and other stakeholders can engage throughout the treaty monitoring cycle. The UN has provided information on how to participate. We have produced a guide for civil society with information on how to participate.

We aim to support civil society organisations to understand and engage with the monitoring process. For instance, we may host webinars or roundtable discussions, commission organisations to produce reports on behalf of wider civil society, or provide financial assistance to increase participation in UN oral evidence sessions.

We will commission up to a maximum of one civil society project per cycle. We most recently provided funding to Redress as part of the previous reporting cycle to produce a joint civil society report.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) treaty cycle

The CAT review cycle is currently at stage 3: stakeholders respond to list of issues.

Reporting to the Committee Against Torture takes place under the simplified reporting procedure.

The timings given below are estimates and may change, particularly as a result of delays and backlogs at the UN. Timings may also change due to UN plans to move to a predictable eight-year review cycle for all treaty bodies. Deadlines for submission of evidence may be confirmed by the UN at short notice, so stakeholders wishing to submit are advised to prepare in advance.