Publications

The annex document lists the allegations of human rights abuse, reports and sources of the cases made against different private security contractors working in countries like South Africa, the USA, UK, Israel, Iraq, Australia.

This submission to the UN Committee against Torture relates to the United States’ treatment of so-called “High Value Detainees” (HVDs), those terrorist suspects considered to have high intelligence value by the USA. These individuals were forcibly disappeared by US authorities for a number of years until their detention was acknowledged in September 2006. They are now held in a separate facility within Guantanamo Bay, and are almost completely cut off from the outside world. Six of the individuals held as HVDs are currently facing trial before a Military Commission, and the Prosecution is seeking the death penalty in each case. This submission focuses on the silencing of these individuals - who are victims of torture and other ill-treatment - through detention, isolation and classification of information as a result of United States counter-terrorism policies as part of the “War on Terror”. These policies represent a deliberate system to ensure that no information about torture and other ill-treatment committed against HVDs will be released, to secure impunity for perpetrators of torture, and to ensure that no redress for the victims is achieved. More specifically, the submission argues that the system of isolation of individuals and classification of information leads to multiple grave, ongoing, violations of the UN Convention against Torture.One HVD facing capital charges before the US Military Commission at Guantanamo Bay is Mustafa al-Hawsawi, which REDRESS has been assisting to seek investigations in several European countries where it believes he was held in secret detention and ill-treated, then illegally rendered to Guantanamo Bay. This submission was made jointly with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT),

This submission provides evidence on the use of immigration detention in the UK, outlining the need for UK immigration policy to be principled, coherent and effective in supporting those feeling torture and ill-treatment, with allegations of torture effectively investigated; perpetrators brought to justice and victims afforded reparations.  

In this briefing paper, the Uganda Victims Foundation identifies the categories of victims, types of interim support needed, processes necessary to meet the reparative needs and proposed time frames that the government policy should target for interim reparations. UVF is mindful that the government has to mobilise resources if it is to meet these interim needs, however it must be recognised that the categories of victims listed herein have lived in inhuman and degrading circumstances from the time of their victimisation until today and hence there is a clear need for urgent intervention. We hope that this Briefing Paper may constitute a useful point of departure to discuss and implement interim measures and thus assist the many victims of the conflict in Uganda.

REDRESS has submitted a list of issues to the UN Human Rights Committee in relation to the UK’s failure to meet some of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). REDRESS seeks the inclusion of these concerns in the list of issues to be taken up during the examination of the UK by the Committee during its session to be held from 7-31 October 2014 in Geneva. Some key concerns are the UK’s insufficient attempts to investigate public officials who have been accused of committing torture, as well as the alleged complicity of the UK in US rendition flights. REDRESS has also drawn attention to the need for the UK to properly deal with allegations of involvement in torture and inhumane treatment by the UK armed forces in Iraq and the alleged sexual abuse by security guards in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre.

REDRESS provided a submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence on the ways in which victims’ views can be included as an integral part of framing, developing and pursuing prosecutorial strategies in transitional justice contexts.      

This paper calls for the elaboration of minimum standards for reparations programmes in response to mass violations. International law recognises that victims of gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law have the right to an effective remedy, including reparation, and that it must meet certain minimum legal standards. However, those standards are not always reflected in the political negotiations leading up to the establishment of administrative reparations programmes. This paper argues that now is a crucial moment to specifically and authoritatively articulate minimum legal standards for administrative reparations programmes. Such standards are important for domestic policy makers, victims’ groups, and the international community involved in advocating for and supporting such programmes, and are crucial to ensure that victims’ rights are reflected in reality.

REDRESS together with Advocacy Forum Nepal and TRIAL (Track Impunity Always) submitted this General Allegation to a number of UN Special Procedure mandate holders arguing that the newly adopted Truth and Reconciliation Act in Nepal breaches international law and promotes impunity. Some of the concerns raised in our submission include the power of the Commissions that will be established to award amnesties and to conduct "reconciliation" even without the consent of victims; the lack of guarantees of impartiality and independence of the Commissions, and the non-recognition of victims' right to reparation.