Australia signs anti-torture protocol

[struggle4progress]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

May 22, 2009 - 3:39PM

Australia's prisons and immigration detention centres could soon be subject to international torture inspections, the federal government says.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland says the government signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture this week.

The protocol obliges parties to allow international inspections of its places of detention, such as jails, to ensure people are being properly treated.

By signing the protocol Australia has taken a huge step towards ratification, something Mr McClelland says he's confident will occur with the support of states and territories ...

Read more: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/australia-signs-antitorture-protocol-20090522-bi0w.html

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OPCAT http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat-one.htm
Status of ratification: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat-one-ratify.htm

US ain't even signed it

[Optical.Catalyst]

1. We have a reputation in the world view of a nation that uses torture

We could go a long way toward mending our bad reputation by prosecuting the Bush Administration for the illegal war in Iraq and the Guantanamo detention center.

It would be a start

[struggle4progress]

2. Maybe we ought to sign and ratify a bunch of treaties, while we're at it

[No Elephants]

5. How about simply abiding by the ones we've already signed-the ones that require us to prosecute

torturers, for instance?

[struggle4progress]

7. How about we ratify the ICC to accept international jurisdiction when we fail to prosecute?

[No Elephants]

8. I'm game. Now, which of us is going to convince the POTUS and the Senate?

[ForrestGump]

3. Does this mean that they'll stop producing

Neighbours?

[moggie]

4. Can you imagine international inspections of US jails?

I'd like to see that, but the US voluntarily opening those hell-holes to UN inspection seems highly unlikely.

[Soylent Brice]

6. so, let me guess...

we'll be the last ones to sign this one too, like the kyoto protocol, right?

oh wait, we haven't even ratified that one. nevermind.

[canetoad]

9. Here's some points from an address

by our Attorney General yesterday.

"Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the prohibition of torture "must remain a constant point on the moral compass that guides any civilised nation state".

"Torture compromises a nation's moral leadership and this jeopardises a nation's capacity to combat terrorism and counter extremism," Mr McClelland said."

"Nothing justifies torture — and nothing justifies a state's use of it," Mr McClelland said.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/torture-ban-a-constant-point-on-moral-compass-20090522-bict.html