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3.4 Previous action taken by the ICRC in 2003
on the issue of treatment 32. On 1 April, the ICRC informed orally the
political advisor of the commander of British Armed
Forces at the CF Central Command in Doha about
methods of ill-treatment used by military
intelligence personnel to interrogate persons
deprived of their liberty in the internment camp of
Umm Qasr. This intervention had the immediate
effect to stop the systematic use of hoods and
flexi-cuffs in the interrogation section of Umm
Qasr. Brutal treatment of persons deprived of their
liberty also allegedly ceased when the 800th MP
Brigade took over the guarding of that section in
Umm Qasr. UK Forces handed over Umm Qasr holding
area to the 800th MP Brigade on 09.04.03. The 800th
MP Brigade then built Camp Bucca two kilometres
away. 33. In May 2003, the ICRC sent to the CF a
memorandum based on over 200 allegations of
ill-treatment of prisoners of war during capture
and interrogation at collecting points, battle
group stations and temporary holding areas. The
allegations were consistent with marks on bodies
observed by the medical delegate. The memorandum
was handed over to ********* of the US Central
Command in Doha. Sate of Qatar. Subsequently, one
improvement consisted in the removal of wristbands
with the remark "terrorist" given to foreign
detainees. 34. In early July the ICRC sent the CF a working
paper detailing approximately 50 allegations of
ill-treatment in the military intelligence section
of Camp Cropper, at Baghdad International Airport.
They included a combination of petty and deliberate
acts of violence aimed at securing the cooperation
of the persons deprived of their liberty with their
interrogators: threats (to intern individuals
indefinitely, to arrest other family members, to
transfer individuals to Guantánamo) against
persons deprived of their liberty or against
members of their families (in particular wives and
daughters); hooding; tight handcuffing; use of
stress positions (kneeling, squatting, standing
with arms raised over the head) for three or four
hours; taking aim at individuals with rifles,
striking them with rifle butts, slaps, punches,
prolonged exposure to the sun, and isolation in
dark cells. ICRC delegates witnessed ma*s on the
bodies of several persons deprived of their liberty
consistent with their allegations. In one
illustrative case, a person deprived of his liberty
arrested at home by the CF on suspicion of
Involvement in an attack against the CE, was
allegedly beaten during interrogation in a location
in the vicinity of Camp Cropper. He alleged that he
had been hooded and cuffed with flexi-cuffs,
threatened to be tortured and killed, urinated on,
kicked in the head, lower back and groin, force-fed
a baseball which was tied into the mouth using a
scarf and deprived of sleep for four consecutive
days. Interrogators would allegedly take turns
ill-treating him. When he said he would complain to
the ICRC he was allegedly beaten more. An ICRC
medical examination revealed haematoma in the lower
hick, blood in urine, sensory loss in the right
hand due to tight handcuffing with flexi-cuffs, and
a broken rib. Shortly after that intervention was sent, the
military intelligence internment section was closed
and persons deprived of their liberty were
transferred to what became the "High Value
Detainees" section of the airport, a regular
internment facility under the command of the 116th
Military Police Battalion. From this time onwards,
the ICRC observed that the ill-treatment of this
category of persons deprived of their liberty by
military intelligence declined significantly and
even stopped, while their interrogation continued
through to the end of the year 2003. 3.5 Allegations of ill-treatment by Iraqi
police 36. The ICRC has also collected a growing body
of allegations relating to widespread abuse of
power and ill-treatment of persons in the custody
of Iraqi police. This included the extensive
practice of threatening to handover these persons
to the CF for internment, or claiming to act under
the CF instructions, in order to abuse their power
and extort money from persons taken in custody.
Allegations collected by the ICRC indicated that
numerous people had been handed over to the CF on
the basis of unfounded accusations (of hostility
against the CF. or belonging to opposition forces)
because they were unable or unwilling, to pay
bribes to the police. Alleged ill-treatment during
arrest and transportation included bonding. tight
handcuffing, verbal abuse, beating with fists and
rifle butts, and kicking. During interrogation, the
detaining authorities allegedly whipped persons
deprived of their liberty with cables on the back,
kicked them in the lower parts of the body,
including in the testicles, handcuffed and left
them hanging from the iron bars of the cell windows
or doors in painful positions for several hours at
a time, and burned them with cigarettes (signs on
bodies witnessed by ICRC delegates). Several
persons deprived of their liberty alleged that they
had been made to sign a statement that they had not
been allowed to rend. These allegations concerned
several police stations in Baghdad including
Al--Qana, A1-Jiran A1-Kubra in al-Amariyya,
Al-Hurriyyeh in A1-Doura, A1-Salhiyye in Salhiyye,
and A1-Baiah. Many persons deprived of their
liberty drew parallels between police practices
under the occupation with those of the former
regime. 36. In early June 2003, for instance, a group of
persons deprived of their liberty was taken to the
former police academy after they had been arrested.
There, they were allegedly hooded and cuffed and
made to stand against a wall while a policeman
placed his pistol against their heads and pulled
the trigger in a mock execution (the pistol was in
fact unloaded); they were also allegedly forced to
sit on chairs where they were hit on the legs, the
soles of their feet and on their sides with sticks.
They also allegedly had water poured on their legs
and had electrical shocks administered to them with
stripped tips of electric wires, The mother of one
of the persons deprived of liberty was reportedly
brought in and the policemen threatened to mistreat
her. Another person deprived of his liberty was
threatened with having his wife brought in and
raped. They were made to fingerprint their alleged
confessions of guilt, which resulted in their
transfer to the CF to be interned pending
trial. 37. The ICRC reminds the
authorities of the CF that prisoners of war and
other protected persons in the custody of occupying
fames must be humanely treated at all times; they
must not be subjected to cruel or degrading
treatment and must be protected against all acts of
violence (Ad, 13, 14, Third Geneva Convention; Art.
27, Fourth Geneva Convention). To flaw and other
forms of physical and psychological coercion
against prisoners of war and other interned persons
for the purpose of extracting confession or
information Is prohibited in all cases and under
all circumstances without exception (Art. 1? and
87, Third Geneva Convention; Art. 5, 31 and 32.
Fourth Geneva Convention). Confessions extracted
under coercion or torture can never be used as
evidence of guilt (Art. 99, Third Geneva Convention
An. 31, Fourth Geneva Convention). Such violations
of International Humanitarian Law should be
thoroughly investigated in order to determine
responsibilities and prosecute those found
responsible (Art. 129, Third Geneva Convention and
Art. 146, Fourth Geneva Convention). 4. TREATMENT IN REGULAR INTERNMENT
FACILITIES 4.1. General conditions of treatment 38. The ICRC assessed the treatment of persons
deprived of their liberty in regular internment
facilities by CF personnel as respectful, with a
few individual exceptions due to individual
personalities or occasional loss of control on the
part of the guards. Abusive behaviour by guards,
when reported to their officers, was usually
quickly reprimanded and disciplined by
superiors. 39, The ICRC often noted a serious communication
gap between detention personnel and persons
deprived of their liberty, primarily due to the
language barrier, which resulted in frequent
misunderstandings. This was compounded by a
widespread attitude of contempt on the part of
guards, in reaction to which persons deprived of
their liberty, which often complained of being
treated like inferiors, adopted a similar
attitude. 40. The ICRC occasionally observed persons
deprived of their liberty being slapped, roughed
up, pushed around or pushed to the ground either
because of poor communication (a failure to
understand or a misunderstanding of orders given in
English was construed by guards 85 resistance or
disobedience), a disrespectful attitude on the part
of guards, a reluctance by persons deprived of
their liberty to comply with orders, or a loss of
temper by guards. 41. Disciplinary measures included being taken
out of the compound, handcuffed and made to stand,
sit, squat or lie down in the sand under the sun
for up to three or four hours, depending on the
breach of discipline (disrespectful behaviour
towards guards, communication between persons
deprived of their liberty transferring from one
compound to another, disobeying orders); temporary
suspension of cigarette distribution, and temporary
segregation in disciplinary confinement sections of
the detention facilities. 42. Despite the fact that reductions in the
availability of water or food rations or, more
commonly, cigarettes were occasionally observed,
the prohibition on collective punishment provided
for under International Humanitarian Law (Art.
26.6, 87.3, Third Geneva Convention and Art 33,
Fourth Geneva Convention) appeared to be generally
respected by detaining authorities. 4.2. "High Value Detainees" section, Baghdad
International Airport 43. Since June 2003, over a hundred "high value
detainees" have been held for nearly 23 hours a day
in strict solitary confinement in small concrete
cells devoid of daylight, This regime of complete
isolation strictly prohibited any contact with
other persons deprived of their liberty, guards,
family members (except through Red Cross Messages)
and the rest of the outside world. Even spouses and
members of the same family were subject to this
regime. Persons deprived of their liberty whose
"investigation" was nearing completion were
reportedly allowed to exercise together outside
their cells for twenty minutes twice a day or go to
the showers or toilets together. The other persons
deprived of their liberty still under interrogation
reportedly continued to be interned in total
'segregation" (i.e. they were allowed to exercise
outside their cells for twenty minutes twice a day
and to go to the showers or toilets but always
alone and without any contact with others). Most
had been subjected to this regime for the past five
months. Attempts to contact other persons deprived
of their liberty or simply to exchange glances or
greetings were reportedly sanctioned by reprimand
or temporary deprivation of time outside their
cells. Since August 2003, the detainees have been
provided with the Koran. They have been allowed to
receive books of a non-political nature, but no
newspapers or magazines or current affairs. The
internment regime appeared to be motivated by a
combination of security concerns (isolation of the
persons deprived of their liberty from the outside
world) and the collection of intelligence. All had
been undergoing interrogation since their
internment, in spite of the fact that none had been
charged with criminal offence. On 30 October 2003, the ICRC wrote to the
Detaining Authorities recommending that this policy
be discontinued and replaced by a regime of
internment consistent with the CF's obligations
under the Geneva Conventions, 44. The internment of persons in solitary
confinement for months at a time in cells devoid of
daylight for nearly 23 hours a day is more severe
than the forms of internment provided for in the
Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions (investigation
of criminal offences or disciplinary punishment).
It cannot be used as a regular, ordinary mode of
holding of prisoners of war or civilian internees.
The ICRC reminds the authorities of the Coalition
Forces in Iraq that internment of this kind
contravenes Articles 21, 25. 89, 90, 95, 103 of the
Third Geneva Convention and Articles 27, 41, 42,
78, 82. 118, 125 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The ICRC recommends to the authorities of the CF
that they set up an internment regime which ensures
respect for the psychological integrity and human
dignify of the persons deprived of their liberty
and that they make sure that all persons deprived
of their liberty are allowed sufficient time every
day outside in the sunlight and the opportunity to
move about and exercise in the outside yard. 5. EXCESSIVE AND DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF
FORCE AGAINST PERSONS DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIBERTY BY
THE DETAINING AUTHORITIES 45. Since March 2003, the ICRC recorded and in
some cases, witnessed, a number of incidents in
which guards shot at persons deprived of their
liberty with live ammunition, in the context either
of unrest relating to internment conditions or of
escape attempts by individuals: Camp Cropper. 24 May 2003: In the context of a
hunger strike, unrest broke out in the camp prior
to ICRC visit. One person deprived of his liberty
suffered a gunshot wound. Camp Cropper. 9 June 2003: Six persons deprived
of their liberty were injured by live ammunition
after a guard opened fire on the group in an
attempt to quell a demonstration. Camp Cropper, 12 June 2003: Two, or possibly
three, persons deprived of their liberty were shot
at when they attempted to escape through the barbed
wire fence. One of them, Akheel Abd Al-Hussein from
Baghdad, was wounded and later died after being
taken to the hospital. The other person deprived of
his liberty was recaptured and received treatment
for gunshot wounds. Abu Ghraib, 13 June 2003: When unrest flared up,
guards from three watchtowers opened fire at the
demonstrators, injuring seven persons deprived of
their liberty and killing another, Alaa Jasim
Hassari. The authorities investigated the matter
and concluded that the "shooting was justified as
the "Three tower [guards] determined that
the lives of the interior Guards were
Threatened". Abu Ghraib, late June 2003: During unrest, one
person deprived of his liberty was injured by live
ammunition when a guard opened fire. Abu Ghraib, 24 November 2003: During a riot four
detainees were killed by US MP guards. The killing
took place after unrest erupted in one of the
compounds (no 4). The detainees claimed to be
unhappy with the situation of detention.
Specifically, lack of food, clothing, but more
importantly the lack of judicial guarantees and,
especially important during the time of Eid
al-Fitr, lack of family visits or lack of contacts
all together. The detainees alleged to have
gathered near the gate whereupon the guards
panicked and started shooting. Initially,
non-lethal ammunition was used which was
subsequently replaced by live ammunition. The report bonded over by the CF to the ICRC
stales that detainees were trying to force open the
gate. It further states that several verbal
warnings were given and non-lethal ammunition fired
at the crowd. After 25 minutes deadly force was
applied resulting in the death of four detainees.
[four short lines obliterated]. - ************************
- ************************
- ************************
- ************************
The narrative report furnished by the CF does
not address the reason for the riot in any way and
does not give any recommendations as to how a
similar incident could be avoided. It does not
question the use of lethal force during such an
incident. Camp Bucca, 16-22 April 2003: ICRC delegates
witnessed a shooting incident, which caused the
death of one person deprived of his liberty and
injury of another. A first shot was fired on the
ground by a soldier located outside the compound in
a bid to rescue one of the guards, allegedly being
threatened by a prisoner of war armed with a stick;
the second shot injured a prisoner of war in the
left forearm, and the third shot killed another
prisoner of war Camp Bucca, 22 September 2003: Following unrest
in a section of the camp, one person deprived of
his liberty, allegedly throwing stones, was fired
upon by a guard in a watchtower He suffered a
gunshot wound to the upper part of the chest, the
bullet passed through the chest and exited form the
back. The investigation undertaken by the CF
concluded that "the compound guards correctly
utilized the rules of engagement and that numerous
non-lethal rounds were dispersed to no avail". The
person deprived of his liberty "was the victim of a
justifiable shooting". An ICRC delegate and an
interpreter witnessed most of the events. At no
point did the persons deprived of their liberty,
and the victim shot at, appear to pose a serious
threat to the life or security of the guards who
could have responded to the situation with less
brutal measures. The shooting showed a clear
disregard for human life and security of the
persons deprived of their liberty. 46. These incidents were investigated summarily
by the CF. They concluded in all oases that a
legitimate use of firearms had been made against
persons deprived of their liberty, who, except
perhaps in Abu Ghraib on 13 June 2003, were unarmed
and did not appear to pose any serious threat to
anyone's life justifying the use of firearms. In
all cases, less extreme measures could have been
used to quell the demonstrations or neutralize
persons deprived of their liberty trying to
escape. 47. In connection with the 22 September 2003
incident, the ICRC wrote on 23 October to the
Commander of the 800th MP Brigade and recommended
the adoption of crowd control measures consistent
with the rules and principles of the Third and
Fourth Geneva Conventions and other applicable
international norms relating to the use of force or
fire arms by law-enforcement personnel. 48. Since May 2003, the ICRC repeatedly
recommended to the CF to use non-lethal methods to
deal with demonstrations, riots or escape attempts.
In Camp Cropper, its recommendations were heeded.
After initial deplorable incidents no further
shooting of persons deprived of their liberty has
occurred since November 2003. In mid-July, the ICRC
witnessed a demonstration in that camp: in spite of
some violence by the persons deprived of their
liberty, the problem was efficiently dealt with by
the camp commander without any excessive use of
force. He called in anti-riot military policemen,
retrained from any act that might have provoked
further anger from the persons deprived of their
liberty, waited patiently for the emotions to calm
down and then sought to establish dialogue with the
persons deprived of their liberty through their
section representatives. The unrest was quieted
down without any violence. 49. The ICRC reminds the
authorities of the CF that the use of firearms
against persons deprived of their liberty
especially against those who are escaping or
attempting to escape is an extreme measure which
should not be disproportionate to the legitimate
objective to be achieved (to apprehend the
individual) and shall always be preceded by warning
appropriate to the circumstances (Art. 42 Third
Geneva Convention). The CF detaining personnel
should be provided with adequate training to deal
with incidents in their internment facilities.
Firearms should not be used except when a suspected
offender offers armed resistance or otherwise
jeopardizes the lives of others and only when less
extreme measures are not sufficient to restrain or
apprehend him (Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for
Law Enforcement Officials and Article 9 of the
Basic Principles an the Use of Force and Firearms
by Law Enforcement Officials). In every instance in which a
firearm is discharged, a report should be made
promptly to the competent authorities. All deaths
or serious injuries of a person deprived of his
liberty caused or suspected to have been caused by
a sentry should be immediately followed by a proper
inquiry by the Detaining Power which should ensure
the prosecution of any person(s) found responsible
(Art 121, Third Geneva Convention: Art. 131. Fourth
Geneva Convention). 6. SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF PRIVATE
BELONGINGS OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF THEIR
LIBERTY 50. The ICRC collected numerous allegations of
seizure and confiscation of private property
(money, cars and other valuables) by the CF in the
context of arrests. In only a few cases were
receipts issued to the arrested person or his
family, detailing the items confiscated. This was
perceived by persons deprived of their liberty as
outright theft or pillage. The following examples
will serve to illustrate the allegations: - ************************ alleged that the CF
took US$22,000 in cash and his personal luggage
during his arrest:
- ************************ claimed that large
amounts of money and personal effects were
confiscated by the CF when he was arrested at
his home on 27-28 May 2003. The items
confiscated allegedly included 71,450,000 Iraqi
dinars, 14,000 US dollars, two wedding rings, a
video camera, a watch, real-estate property
documents, his wife's residential documents, his
father's will, his private diaries, as well as
most of the family private documents and
personal identity and other papers:
- ************************ claimed that his
car was confiscated when he was arrested by the
CF in Basrah on 16 July 2003.
- ************************ claimed that CF
confiscated two million Iraqi dinars when
arrested at his home on 21 August 2003;
- ************************ that his money and
two cars were confiscated when he was arrested
by the CF an 11 August 2003;
51. In Camp Cropper, Camp Bucca and Abu Ghraib,
a system was gradually put In place whereby
personal belongings in the possession of persons
deprived of their liberty at the time of their
arrival in these facilities which they could not
keep with them (money, other valuables, spare
clothing, identity papers) were registered and kept
until their release. In these cases, a receipt was
usually issued to the person deprived of his
liberty and his belongings were returned when he
was released. However, this system took no account
of the property seized during arrest. 52. In response to property loss or damage
caused to property by the CF during raids and also
to complaints regarding pension or salaries, the CF
established a compensation system open to everyone,
including internees and the general public.
Complaints could be filed at General Information
Centers (GIC), set up under the responsibility of
the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Centers
(HACC). Supporting evidence, which is problematic given
that arresting authorities rarely issue receipts,
should back claims. The ICRC is not yet able to
assess the efficiency of this compensation system
although it has had the possibility to visit one of
the GICs. There are nine GICs in the city of
Baghdad and one in the city of Mosul, there are
however none in the other parts of the country
therefore depriving a Large number of persons of
the possibility to file complaints 53. In accordance with
international legal provisions, the ICRC reminds
the authorities of the CF that pillage is
prohibited by International Humanitarian Law (Art.
33 Fourth Geneva Convention), that private property
may not be confiscated (Art. 46.2 1907 Hague
Convention No IV), and that an army of occupation
can only take possession of cash, funds, and
realizable securities which are strictly the
property of the State. (Art. 53, 1907 Hague
Convention No IV). In addition, persons deprived
of their liberty shall be permitted to retain
articles of personal use. Valuables may not be
taken from them except in accordance with an
established procedure and receipts must be issued
(Art. 18. 58.2, Third Geneva Convention and Art.
97, Fourth Geneva Convention). 7. EXPOSURE OF INTERNEES / DETAINEES TO
DANGEROUS TASKS 54. On 3 September 2003 in Camp Bucca, three
persons deprived of their liberty were severely
injured by the explosion of what apparently was a
cluster bomb: - ************************ (bilateral
below-knee amputation)
- ************************ (bilateral
above-knee amputation)
- ************************ (left above-knee
amputation)
They were part of a group of 10 persons deprived
of their liberty involved in voluntary work to
clear rubbish along the barbed-wire fence of the
camp. They were transferred to the British Field
Military Hospital where they received appropriate
medical treatment. Their injuries required limb
amputations. 55. On 23 October 2003, the ICRC wrote to the
officer commanding the 800th MP Brigade to request
an investigation into the incident. The ICRC
encouraged the CF not to engage persons deprived of
their liberty in dangerous labour. 56. The ICRC recommends to
the authorities of the CF that all three victims be
properly compensated as provided for by both Third
and Fourth Geneva Conventions (Art.66, Third Geneva
Convention and Art.95, Fourth Geneva
Convention). 8. PROTECTION OF PER8ONS DEPRIVED OF THEIR
LIBERTY AGAINST SHELLING 57. Since its reopening by the CF, Abu Ghraib
prison has been the target of frequent night
shelling by mortars and other weapons, which
resulted, on several occasions, in persons deprived
of their liberty being killed or injured. During
the month of July, the Commander of the facility
reported at least 25 such attacks. On 16 August.
three mortar rounds landed in the prison compound,
killing at least five and injuring 67 persons
deprived of their liberty. Subsequent attacks
caused further deaths and injuries. An ICRC team
visited Abu Ghraib on 17 August and noticed the
lack of protective measures: while the CF personnel
were living in concrete buildings, all persons
deprived of their liberty were sheltered under
tents in compounds which had no bunkers or any
other protection. rendering them totally vulnerable
to shelling. Persons deprived of their liberty alleged that
they had not been advised on what to do to protect
themselves in the event of shelling. They were
dismayed and felt that the authorities "did not
care". After these attacks, security was improved
around the prison compound to reduce the risk of
further attacks. However, steps taken to ensure the
protection of persons deprived of their liberty
remained insufficient. The inmates were allowed to
fill and place sandbags around the perimeter of
each tent, By late October, sandbags had not been
placed around all tents and those sandbags that
were in place did not offer adequate protection
from shelling or projectile explosions. 58. In accordance with
International Humanitarian Law provisions, the ICRC
reminds the authorities of the CF that the
detaining power must not sot up places of
internment in areas particularly fly exposed to the
dangers of war (Art. 23.1 Third Geneva Convention
and Art. 83, Fourth Geneva Convention). In all
places of internment exposed to air raids and other
hazards of war, shelters adequate in number and
structure to ensure the necessary protection must
be made available. In the event of an alarm, the
internees must be free to enter such shelters as
quickly as possible (Art. 23.2, Third Geneva
Convention and Art 88, Fourth Geneva Convention).
When a place of internment is found to be unsafe,
persons deprived of their liberty should be
transferred to other places of interment, offering
adequate security end living conditions in
accordance with the Third and Fourth Geneva
Conventions.
CONCLUSION 59. This ICRC report documents serious
violations of International Humanitarian Law
relating to the conditions of treatment of the
persons deprived of their liberty held by the CF in
Iraq. In particular, it establishes that persons
deprived of their liberty face the risk of being
subjected to a process of physical and
psychological coercion, in some cases tantamount to
torture, in the early stages of the internment
process. 60. Once the interrogation process is over, the
conditions of treatment for the persons deprived of
their liberty generally improve, except in the
"High Value Detainee" section at Baghdad
International Airport where persons deprived of
their liberty have been held for nearly 23 hours a
day in strict solitary confinement in small
concrete cells devoid of daylight, an internment
regime which does not comply with provisions of the
Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions. 61. During internment, persons deprived of their
liberty also risk being victims of disproportionate
and excessive use of force on the part of detaining
authorities attempting to restore order in the
event of unrest or to prevent escapes. 62. Another serious violation of International
Humanitarian Law described in the report is the
CF's inability or lack of will to set up a system
of notifications of arrests for the families of
persons deprived of liberty in Iraq. This violation
of provisions of International Humanitarian Law
causes immense distress among persons deprived of
their liberty and their families, the latter
fearing that their relatives unaccounted for are
dead. The uncaring behaviour of the CF and their
inability to quickly provide accurate information
on persons deprived of their liberty for the
families concerned also seriously affects the Image
of the Occupying Powers amongst the Iraqi
population. 63. in addition to recommendations highlighted
in the report relating to conditions of internment,
information given to persons deprived of their
liberty upon arrest, and the need to investigate
violations of International Humanitarian Law and to
prosecute those found responsible, the ICRC wishes
particularly to remind the CF of their duty: - to respect at all times the human dignity,
physical integrity and cultural sensitivity of
persons deprived of their liberty held under
their control:
- to set up a system of notifications of
arrests to ensure that the families persons
deprived of their liberty are quickly and
accurately informed:
- to prevent all forms of ill-treatment and
moral or physical coercion of persons deprived
of their liberty in connection with
interrogations:
- to instruct the arresting and detaining
authorities that causing serious bodily injury
or serious harm to the health of protected
persons is prohibited under the Third and Fourth
Geneva Conventions
- to set up an internment regime that ensures
respect for the psychological integrity and
human dignity of the persons deprived of their
liberty
- to ensure that battle group units arresting
individuals and staff in charge of internment
facilities receive adequate training enabling
them to operate in a proper manner and fulfill
their responsibilities without resorting to
ill-treatment or using excessive force.
The practices described in this report are
prohibited under International Humanitarian Law.
They warrant serious attention by the CF. In
particular, the CF should review their policies and
practices, take corrective action and improve the
treatment of prisoners of war and other protected
persons under their authority. This report is part
of the bilateral and confidential dialogue
undertaken by the ICRC with the CF. in the future,
the ICRC will continue its bilateral and
confidential dialogue with the CF in accordance
with provisions of International Humanitarian Law,
on the basis of its monitoring of the conditions of
arrest, interrogation and internment of persons
deprived of their liberty held by the CF. - End of report - | ![[]](../../std/dings/list.gif){kind=small}
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