Prohibition of Torture: Application of International Standards Guaranteed by Articles 3 and 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights in National Legal Practice

The systemic violations against human rights in penitentiary institutions have been significantly eradicated over the past years in Georgia, however, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment continue to be a topical issue in Georgian society. Also, it remains problematic to qualify appropriately certain acts as torture.

This report, produced within the EU-funded ‘Partnership for Good Governance’ programme, implemented by the Council of Europe, is divided into two parts. The first part provides an overview of the prohibition of torture under international law and aims to review the UN and the Council of Europe standards on prohibition of torture, including exact defining and differentiation of other forms of torture and ill-treatment. The second part aims to analyse judgments delivered by the national courts in the cases of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, as well as the application of the international standards in this field.