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| LORD WOOLF CALLS FOR PROSECUTION OF FOREIGN TORTURERS IN UK COURTS |
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| Written by James |
| Thursday, 15 May 2008 13:34 |
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Torture (Damages) Bill The Former Lord Chief Justice, the Leader of the Independent Peers and the former Chief Inspector of Prisons to speak in second reading of Torture (Damages) Bill on Friday 16 May 2008, 10am. An influential group of Independent Peers are joining a debate on a private members bill to enable UK Citizens and residents who are tortured abroad to seek redress through the UK Courts. Presently, states that authorise or allow torture within their borders can hide behind the State Immunity Act of 1978. The Torture (Damages) Bill will be debated in the House of Lords on Friday 16 May 2008 and would give a new exception to the State Immunity Act for cases of torture. Former Director of human rights organisation REDRESS, Baroness D'Souza, will tell the House of Lords: ...governments have to be prepared to prosecute torturers whether these be agents of the state or the state police. To do otherwise is to condone torture, however tacitly. Speaking ahead of the debate, Baroness D'Souza, Convenor of the Independent Crossbench Peers said: Colleagues inside and outside the Lords have been frankly traumatised just hearing the accounts from UK citizens and residents who have been tortured abroad only to get something amounting to an official cold shoulder here in Britain when seeking help to get redress from foreign regimes. This is shocking since we are talking about the victims of unspeakable, degrading acts that you will never be able to forget and yet are ashamed to speak about. It is utterly unacceptable for any politician to use the veil of national sovereignty when confronted with verifiable accounts of rape, electric shocks being used on genitals and forced labour, for example. Some victims say that they may never fully be healed - in mind or body. But society needs to understand that official acknowledgement of the wrong that has been inflicted on them is a powerful part of the healing process, together with the monetary compensation that would strengthen their chances of long-term survival and obtaining the best medical and support care. Former Lord Chief Justice of England & Wales Lord Woolf (Independent Peer) said ahead of the Second Reading: Torture is a crime under international law. A state that is guilty of torture should be liable to pay compensation for the injury caused to the victim. Today, before the Courts of this country, the UK can be required to compensate a foreigner who overseas is tortured by British troops. It would be wrong that a foreign state that was responsible for torture should have a technical defence before our Courts. The Bill would abolish that technicality". Several British citizens and numerous asylum seekers, alleged victims of torture, have been unable to take civil proceedings against foreign states having exhausted other diplomatic remedies. Former Chief Inspector of Prisons for England & Wales Lord Ramsbotham (Independent Peer) will also contribute to the debate. For further information: · See attachments from REDRESS, Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and from Prisoners Abroad for more information · Phone Julian Dee on 0207 219 1414 to speak to Baroness D'Souza <<REDRESS FINAL SUBMISSION 15 May 08.doc>> <<Prisoners Abroad Position Paper 15 May 2008.doc>> <<MF Position paper 15 May 2008.doc>> Text of the Torture (Damages) Bill (sponsored by Labour Peer Lord Archer of Sandwell QC): http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/torturedamages.html Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture: http://www.torturecare.org.uk Prisoners Abroad: http://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/ Redress: http://www.redress.org Speaker's list: Debate: Torture (Damages) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Sponsor: Labour Peer Lord Archer of Sandwell QC]. Speakers, in alphabetical order: • L Archer of Sandwell • L Borrie • B D'Souza • L Elystan-Morgan 5. • B Falkner of Margravine • L Hunt of Kings Heath (Minister) • L Judd • L Ramsbotham • L Thomas of Gresford 10. • L Woolf |
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