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<p>I attempt to analyze South Africa&rsquo / s legal position pertaining to torture, in relation to the international legal framework. Since it has been established that torture and cruel inhuman and degrading treatment (CIDT) usually occur in situations where persons are deprived of personal liberty, I examine legislation, policies and practices applicable to specific places of detention, such as correctional centres, police custody, repatriation centers, mental health care facilities and child and youth care centers. I establish that although South Africa has ratified the UNCAT and is a signatory to the OPCAT, our legal system greatly lacks in structure and in mechanisms of enforcement, as far as the absolute prohibition and the prevention of torture and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment or punishment are concerned. I submit that South Africa has a special duty to eradicate torture, since many of its citizens and several of its political leaders are actually victims of torture, who suffered severe ill treatment under the apartheid regime. I argue that the South African legal system is sufficiently capable of adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward torture and to incorporate this with the general stance against crime. In many respects, South Africa is an example to other African countries and should strongly condemn all forms of human rights violations, especially torture, since acts of torture are often perpetrated by public officials who abuse their positions of authority. I conclude by making submissions and recommendations for law reform, in light of the obstacles encountered within a South African context.</p>

<p>I attempt to analyze South Africa&rsquo / s legal position pertaining to torture, in relation to the international legal framework. Since it has been established that torture and cruel inhuman and degrading treatment (CIDT) usually occur in situations where persons are deprived of personal liberty, I examine legislation, policies and practices applicable to specific places of detention, such as correctional centres, police custody, repatriation centers, mental health care facilities and child and youth care centers. I establish that although South Africa has ratified the UNCAT and is a signatory to the OPCAT, our legal system greatly lacks in structure and in mechanisms of enforcement, as far as the absolute prohibition and the prevention of torture and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment or punishment are concerned. I submit that South Africa has a special duty to eradicate torture, since many of its citizens and several of its political leaders are actually victims of torture, who suffered severe ill treatment under the apartheid regime. I argue that the South African legal system is sufficiently capable of adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward torture and to incorporate this with the general stance against crime. In many respects, South Africa is an example to other African countries and should strongly condemn all forms of human rights violations, especially torture, since acts of torture are often perpetrated by public officials who abuse their positions of authority. I conclude by making submissions and recommendations for law reform, in light of the obstacles encountered within a South African context.</p>

Magister Legum - LLM / I attempt to analyze South Africa's legal position pertaining to torture, in relation to the international legal framework. Since it has been established that torture and cruel inhuman and degrading treatment (CIDT) usually occur in situations where persons are deprived of personal liberty, I examine legislation, policies and practices applicable to specific places of detention, such as correctional centres, police custody, repatriation centers, mental health care facilities and child and youth care centers. I establish that although South Africa has ratified the UNCAT and is a signatory to the OPCAT, our legal system greatly lacks in structure and in mechanisms of enforcement, as far as the absolute prohibition and the prevention of torture and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment or punishment are concerned. I submit that South Africa has a special duty to eradicate torture, since many of its citizens and several of its political leaders are actually victims of torture, who suffered severe ill treatment under the apartheid regime. I argue that the South African legal system is sufficiently capable of adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward torture and to incorporate this with the general stance against crime. In many respects, South Africa is an example to other African countries and should strongly condemn all forms of human rights violations, especially torture, since acts of torture are often perpetrated by public officials who abuse their positions of authority. I conclude by making submissions and recommendations for law reform, in light of the obstacles encountered within a South African context. / South Africa

Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Universal jurisdiction is a relatively new concept in South Africa and a rather controversial concept in international criminal law. It is often discussed but rarely applied. Universal jurisdiction refers to the power of a State to punish certain crimes irrespective of where they were committed. Such crimes need not be connected to the State in question via the more traditional links of territory, nationality or direct State interest. These crimes are typically the worst crimes in international law such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The argument goes that those who commit these types of offences become hostis humani generis, or the enemies of all mankind. Therefore just like the pirate of old any nation that captures them is entitled to exercise its jurisdiction over them, on behalf of all mankind. But at the same time a feature and founding principle of international law is the sovereign equality of States. And under international law criminal jurisdiction is a prerogative of sovereign States. States have territorial jurisdiction over crimes committed within their territory, for having control over a territory is essentially what it means to be sovereign. This means that one nation’s attempt to exercise jurisdiction over persons that also fall under the jurisdiction of another nation could be perceived as the undermining of the second nation’s sovereignty. It is submitted that a proper understanding of universal jurisdiction internationally, and in South Africa, is vital because the Constitutional Court recently ordered South African authorities to investigate torture committed by Zimbabwean officials against Zimbabwean citizens that was allegedly committed in Zimbabwe. In other words the court ordered South African authorities to exercise universal jurisdiction over Zimbabwean officials. This thesis has as goal to critically examine the claims made, and authorities, cited in support of universal jurisdiction, as it is believed that these are usually theoretical and unpractical in nature. It is submitted that balance and a measure of realism is imperative to this debate. Contrary to popular opinion, it is submitted, that the history of international relations has not favored universal jurisdiction and there is no indication that this situation has fundamentally changed or will change in the near future. The thesis continues to examine, after a consideration of the likening of pirates to modern international criminals, the claim that old authorities such as Grotius and De Vattel provide support for universal jurisdiction. An analysis follows of the so-called ‘Lotus principle’, which is said to mean that any State may exercise jurisdiction over serious offences because there is no rule prohibiting it. The trials of German war criminals by the Allies, in the aftermath of WWII, is also said to have evidenced universal jurisdiction and this claim is critically examined. The same applies to the trial of Adolf Eichmann by Israel. The examination of provision for universal jurisdiction in international law continues when the jurisdictional provisions of the Genocide, War Crimes and Torture Conventions are examined and specifically applied to South Africa. The drafting process of these Conventions is carefully studied to understand the intention and circumstances prevalent at the time. In the process specific countries and international case law dealing with these Conventions is also considered. The jurisdictional triggers of the International Criminal Court are surveyed and it is questioned whether it provides for universal jurisdiction and whether it can then be said to support member States in exercising universal jurisdiction on its behalf. The research findings on universal jurisdiction and the ICC are finally applied to South Africa especially with reference to the Constitutional Court decision on the torture committed in Zimbabwe before conclusions are drawn as to what South Africa’s international and domestic duties entail. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Universele jurisdiksie is ‘n relatief nuwe konsep in Suid-Afrika en ‘n redelik kontroversiële konsep in internasionale strafreg. Dit word gereeld bespreek maar weinig toegepas. Universele jurisdiksie verwys na die bevoegdheid van ‘n Staat om sekere misdrywe te straf ongeag waar dit gepleeg is. Die betrokke Staat hoef nie enige van die traditionele verbindings soos territorialiteit, nationaliteit of direkte Staats-belang met sodanige misdrywe te hê nie. Hierdie misdade is tipies van die ergste misdade in internasionale reg, soos volksmoord, oorlogsmisdade en misdade teen die mensdom. Die argument is dat diegene wat hierdie tipe misdrywe pleeg hostis humanis generis, of vyande van die mensdom word. Daarom, net soos die seerower van ouds, is enige nasie, wat hulle in hegtenis neem geregtig om sy jurisdiksie, namens die ganse mensdom, oor hulle uit te oefen. Maar terselfde tyd is 'n kenmerk en grondbeginsel van internasionale reg die soewereine gelykheid van State. En onder internasionale reg is strafregtelike jurisdiksie 'n prerogatief van soewereine State. State het territoriale jurisdiksie oor misdade wat binne hul regsgebied gepleeg is, want om beheer oor 'n gebied uit te oefen is in wese wat soewerein wees behels. Dus kan een Staat se poging om jurisdiksie uit te oefen oor persone wat ook onder die jurisdiksie van 'n ander Staat val beskou word as die ondergrawing van die tweede Staat se soewereiniteit. Dit word aan die hand gedoen dat 'n behoorlike begrip van universele jurisdiksie, beide internasionaal, en in Suid-Afrika van uiterse belang is, veral omdat die Konstitionele Hof onlangs Suid-Afrikaanse owerhede beveel het dat marteling gepleeg in Zimbabwe, deur Zimbabwiese amptenare, teen Zimbabwiese burgers ondersoek moet word. Die hof het dus beveel dat die Suid-Afrikaanse owerhede universele jurisdiksie moet uitoefen oor Zimbabwiese amptenare. Hierdie tesis het ten doel om die gesag gewoonlik genoem, ter ondersteuning van universele jurisdiksie, krities te beskou, veral omdat dit gewoonlik teoreties en onprakties van aard blyk te wees. Hierdie tesis poog om ‘n noodsaaklike balans en mate van realisme tot die debat te voeg. Anders as wat algemeen aanvaar word ondersteun die geskiedenis van internasionale betrekkinge nie universele jurisdiksie nie en is daar ook geen aanduiding dat hierdie situasie onlangs fundamenteel verander het, of in die nabye toekoms sal verander nie. Die tesis beskou voorts, na 'n oorweging van die vergelyking van seerowers met moderne internasionale misdadigers, die bewering dat die ou skrywers soos De Groot en De Vattel hul steun verleen aan universele jurisdiksie. Hierna volg ‘n ontleding van die sogenaamde "Lotus beginsel", wat glo beteken dat enige Staat jurisdiksie mag uitoefen oor ernstige oortredings, bloot omdat daar geen reël is wat dit verbied nie. Die verhore van Duitse oorlogs misdadigers deur die Geallieerdes, na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog, word ook dikwels as bewys gebruik van universele jurisdiksie en word ook krities bekyk. Dieselfde geld vir die verhoor van Adolf Eichmann deur Israel. Die voorsiening gemaak vir universele jurisdiksie word verder ondersoek deur te let op die jurisdiksionele bepalings in die Konvensies oor volksmoord, oorlogsmisdade en marteling en dit word telkens op Suid-Afrika van toepassing gemaak. Daar word veral noukeurig gelet op die opstel proses van hierdie Konvensies ten einde te bepaal presies wat die bedoeling en heersende omstandighede toe was. In die proses word spesifieke lande en internasionale gesag wat met die Konvensies te make het oorweeg. Die Internasionale Strafhof, en of dit voorsiening vir universele jurisdiksie maak, word ondersoek ten einde te bepaal of dit enigsins gesê kan word dat die Hof lidstate aanmoedig om universele jurisdiksie te beoefen. Laastens word die bevindings oor universele jurisdiksie en die Internasionale Strafhof toegepas op Suid-Afrika, veral met verwysing na die Konstitusionele Hof beslissing oor die marteling in Zimbabwe, voordat gevolgtrekkings gemaak word oor wat presies Suid-Afrika se internasionale en plaaslike pligte behels.

This paper assesses U.S. national security policies in surveillance, detention, interrogation and torture, and targeted killing to determine whether they comport with international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The U.S. is responsible for adhering to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Geneva Conventions. These human rights law documents can be understood through court decisions, congressional statutes, and widely accepted interpretations from organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the UN Human Rights Council. Further, this paper offers prescriptions on how international human rights law and international humanitarian law can be updated to better deal with the current war on terror. / text

The study, “Between honor and shame: Martyrdom in 2 Maccabees 6-7 within the socio-cultural arena”, presents a look at how the community viewed martyrdom in 2 Maccabees 6:18-7:42 from the perspective of honor and shame. The chief objective is to determine whether or not the community supported or challenged the notion of the martyrs’ death being either honorable or shameful. In order to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this objective, this study set as goals the identification of key themes which shed light upon the views of the community in regard to the martyrs, as well as the investigation of the community’s understanding of honor and shame found in 2 Maccabees 6:18-7:42. This study incorporates a contextual analytical method comprising of an analysis of sociocultural vocabulary, an analysis of the socio-cultural vocabulary within the Greek text of 2 Maccabees 6:18-7:42 and a synthesis of the analysis of both the socio-cultural and the Greek context. As criteria for the study of the socio-cultural context the aspects of sacred-profane, pure-impure, the patron-client relationship and the relationship between individual and group(s) are implemented. Core-findings of this study may be divided into two main categories: evidence in defence of an honorable conduct during death, and evidence in defence of the dishonorable manner of death. Evidence in defence of honorable conduct during death, are: • The martyrs remain completely loyal and devoted to God (their Chief-Patron), His laws and • the customs of the forefathers. • They are portrayed as being bodily whole. • They safeguard their set-apartness. • They remain pure – especially in the ritualistic sense. • As individuals belonging to the collected identity of various groups, the martyrs prove themselves loyal and honorable. Evidence in defence for the dishonorable manner in which the martyrs die, are: • Torture was deemed disgraceful by the community and would therefore degrade honor. • Mutilation went into the very fabric of the wholeness of the body by destroying the bodily unity, thereby disqualifying a person to come into the realm of the sacred. • Certain members of the community would regard the martyrs’ rejection of the lesser patrons’ favor as disrespectful and therefore as dishonorable conduct. Despite this evidence, it is still found that the community could remain undecided on how to judge the martyrs and martyrdom. Therefore, it is proposed, and successfully implemented, that an emotional argument might be the key to tipping the scale toward viewing the martyrs and martyrdom as honorable. It must therefore be concluded that the community would have indeed challenged the notion of martyrdom being honorable, for torture and mutilations in themselves, were regarded as being disgraceful. Yet the community would have been persuaded to accept the honor of the martyrs because of their honorable conduct and the emotional appeal made by the author of Maccabees. / Thesis (MA (Greek))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:25:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Flavio.pdf: 701940 bytes, checksum: 3a94c48456d58a28a7f7390dd01d3e7d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-22 / The study presented hereunder has as its theme the influences performed by the international treaties against torture crimes in the Brazilian Criminal Law. The very study briefly analyses the main treaties that compose the international system of fundamental rights protection, its historical background and its principles, emphasizing the international treaties against torture made under the United Union UN and the Organization of American States OAS. The core issue of such paper is the study of Brazilian Criminal Law, the influences received by the international treaties over the human rights and it compares that system with the assumed obligations made by Brazil before the international community against torture crime. It concludes that, in general, this country does not obey the former demands accepted in the treaties, especially concerning the criminal punishment. Finally, the dissertation presents the influence of the international treaties of human rights in general, and those against torture specifically, regarding the function developed by the Criminal Law towards society: as a guarantee of ruled expectations established in the international treaties demanding the impartial, serious and thorough investigation of the proceedings and severe punishment of such aggressions to fundamental rights of a human being / A dissertação versa sobre as influências exercidas pelos tratados internacionais contra a tortura sobre o Direito Penal brasileiro. Analisa brevemente os principais tratados que compõem o sistema internacional de proteção dos direitos fundamentais, sua formação histórica e os seus princípios, com ênfase nos tratados internacionais contra a tortura firmados no âmbito da Organização das Nações Unidas ONU e da Organização dos Estados Americanos OEA. No ponto central, o estudo analisa o Direito Penal brasileiro, as influências recebidas dos tratados internacionais sobre direitos humanos e o confronta com as obrigações assumidas pelo Brasil perante a comunidade internacional no combate ao crime de tortura. Conclui que, em geral, o Brasil descumpre as obrigações assumidas nos tratados, especialmente no que diz respeito à punição do delito. Por fim, a dissertação demonstra a influência dos tratados internacionais de direitos humanos em geral, e aqueles contra a tortura em particular, sobre a função exercida pelo Direito Penal à sociedade: garantia de expectativas normativas estabilizadas nos tratados internacionais, que exigem a investigação séria e imparcial, o processo e a punição severa de determinadas agressões a direitos fundamentais da pessoa humana

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:46:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LARISSA APARECIDA LIMA SANTOS.pdf: 830312 bytes, checksum: edf488ec8df82ed498f07cb92f062fd3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-22 / The present work investigates the application of the Enemy Criminal Law theory in the war against terrorism, particularly, in the prison of Guantanamo, and the paradigm shift in Criminal Garantism, especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Therefore, this study analyzed the wishes of the American Society against terrorism and the thirst for an exacerbated punitivism in a context of criminal law expansion, which leads to the relaxation of human rights as a consequence of an exceptional regime. Subsequently, this thesis presents a confrontation between the Enemy Criminal Law theory its characteristics, foundations and philosophical assumptions and the Criminal Garantism theory with its focus on greater protection of human rights in a democratic state. Shortly thereafter, this study focus on the definitions, characteristics and consequences of terrorism that triggered the development of harsh laws against terrorism and also the practice of torture in Guantanamo. This thesis, also examined the international standards of human rights protection, several international conventions against terrorism and some measures historically adopted by the UN in similar cases. Last but not least, in the light of the practices of torture conducted at Guantanamo this study reveals an attempt to deconstruct the Criminal Garantism theory and the protection of human rights, illustrating the current conflict between protecting national security and respect for human rights. / O presente trabalho tem como objeto a análise da aplicação da teoria do Direito Penal do Inimigo na guerra contra o terrorismo e, em especial, na prisão de Guantânamo, e a ruptura com o paradigma do Garantismo Penal, principalmente após os ataques terroristas de 11 de setembro de 2001. Para tanto, analisou-se os anseios da sociedade americana perante o terrorismo e a sede por um punitivismo exacerbado em um contexto de expansão do direito penal, o qual conduz à flexibilização dos direitos humanos como consequência de um regime de exceção. Posteriormente, realizou-se um embate entre a teoria do Direito Penal do Inimigo, suas características, fundamentos e pressupostos filosóficos e a teoria do Garantismo Penal com seu enfoque na maior proteção dos direitos humanos em um Estado Democrático de Direito. Logo em seguida, estudou-se as definições, características e as conseqüências do terrorismo, as quais desencadearam a elaboração de duras leis americanas antiterroristas e as práticas de torturas em Guantânamo. Ainda, examinou-se as normas internacionais de proteção aos direitos humanos e várias Convenções Internacionais e medidas contra o terrorismo adotadas pela ONU. Por fim, analisou-se as práticas de torturas realizadas em Guantânamo demonstrando a tentativa de desconstrução da teoria do Garantismo Penal e da proteção dos direitos humanos, representando o conflito existente na atualidade entre proteção da segurança nacional e o respeito aos direitos do ser humano.

Esta pesquisa investiga a questão da tortura praticada no Brasil durante o Regime Militar. Para tanto, é apresentado um escorço histórico a respeito da tortura, com destaque para a sua prática nos Impérios Grego e Romano e na Europa medieval. Igualmente, é feita uma abordagem histórica da tortura no Brasil, analisando o aspecto local e histórico, este com apoio de narrativas literárias. O ponto relevante é o Regime Militar iniciado no Brasil em 1964, durante o qual há relatos do emprego da tortura com muita frequência. A fim de melhor compreender a mentalidade da época, aborda-se a retórica de quatro generais do Exército Brasileiro, três deles Presidentes da República. De acordo com esse panorama do pensamento do Governo Federal, estuda-se o comportamento da Polícia Civil do Estado de São Paulo, não sem antes apresentar uma análise histórica de como ela atuou como instrumento do Poder Executivo (tanto federal quanto estadual). Para se compreender a figura do torturador, são estudados conceitos da Psicologia e da Sociologia que buscam explicar por que um agente do estado presta-se a esse tipo de trabalho e, para tanto, são trazidas versões apresentadas pelos próprios torturadores; ainda nesse tópico merece análise a teoria arendtiana da banalização do mal e seus questionamentos recentes, além de uma abordagem sob o enfoque da relação de trabalho no pensamento de Dejours. Fixada a tortura na realidade brasileira e o que pode transformar um policial em um torturador, a pesquisa busca estabelecer alguns pontos básicos, tais como a vinculação da tortura com o poder econômico, a questão da eficácia da tortura, a discussão entre moralidade e legalidade, o totalitarismo e a ditadura, o interesse público na tortura. O pensamento arendtiano retorna para auxiliar a compreender a questão da violência do Estado, por meio de sua força policial. No último capítulo analisa-se o Estado que tolera a tortura e, para tanto, é enfrentada a discussão jurídica a respeito desta, a partir de teses modernas, sobretudo a que trata da bomba relógio (ticking bomb). Estuda-se também o conceito moderno de barbárie (Todorov), que resulta na violência policial e em um chamado direito defeituoso (Radbruch). A pesquisa é concluída com uma análise de tudo o quanto exposto e das consequências da prática da tortura no regime militar na ação policial hoje. / This research investigates the issue of torture practiced in Brazil under the Military Regime. Therefore, a historical outline of torture is introduced with especial focus on its practice in the Greek and Roman Empires and medieval Europe. It´s also presented a historical overview of torture in Brazil by analyzing local and historical aspects. The historical context relies on literary narratives. The relevant point is the Military Regime started in Brazil in 1964 within which there were very frequently reports of torture. The rhetoric of four Brazilian Army generals, three of them Presidents of the Republic, is raised in order to better understand the mentality of that time. In accordance with this outlook of the federal government thought, the behavior of Civil Police of the State of São Paulo is studied, but not before being provided a historic analysis of how it acted as a tool of Executive Branch (both federal and state). Aiming to comprehend the figure of the torturer, the concepts of Psychology and Sociology, which try to explain why an agent of the state serves to this kind of action, are also studied, including at this point the versions provided by the torturers themselves. The Hannah Arendts theory of trivialization of the evil and its recent questions are considered in this topic, besides an approach focused on the employment relationship in Dejours thought. By being placed the torture in the Brazilian reality and the reasons which can transform a police officer into a torturer, this research seeks to lay down some basic points, such as the link between torture and the economic power, the questions about the effectiveness of torture, the discussion between legality and morality, the totalitarianism and the dictatorship, the public interest in the torture. Once again the Arendts thought is viewed to help to understand the matter of the violence of the state by its police force. The closing chapter examines the State which tolerates the torture, facing the legal discussion about it, addressing modern theses, mainly about ticking bomb , and studying the modern concept of barbarism (Todorov), which results in the police violence and in the so-called defective law (Radbruch). This research is concluded with the exam of all of the above and the consequences nowadays in the police action of the practice of torture during the military regime.