World Uyghur Congress, 3 November 2008

WUC — The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) has prepared this report in collaboration with the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) for the consideration by the Committee Against Torture (CAT) on the eve of their session on the fourth periodical report submitted to it by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in line with the provisions as laid down in the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereafter “the Convention”).

The Committee Against Torture is a committee of 10 independent experts, who monitor the implementation of the Convention Against Torture. State parties to the Convention are required to periodically submit reports on the domestic implementation of the Convention Against Torture. The CAT also allows NGOs and other stakeholders to submit reports on the domestic implementation of the Convention Against Torture. The review process will take into account the state report by the PRC, as will it note the submissions made by NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. The review process will result in a set concluding observations and comments. Each state party to the Convention Against Torture is obliged to submit a state report every four (4) years.

In the joint report that UNPO submitted with the World Uyghur Congress to the Committee Against Torture, it has expressed grave concern over the use of torture within the People’s Republic of China. The report expresses particular concern over the following issues:

• lack of a definition of what torture consists of in national PRC law;
• insufficient preventive measures; and
• lack of impartial investigation when acts of torture are suspected.

The report can be downloaded here.