RESOLUTION 3452 (XXX)

Summary

This five-page archival document, circulated by Amnesty International in January 1976, reproduces United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3452 (XXX), adopted on 9 December 1975, together with its annexed Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The resolution grounds protection from torture in the inherent dignity and equal, inalienable rights of every person, and links the declaration to the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The annex defines torture as the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain for purposes including obtaining information or a confession, punishment, intimidation, or coercion. It rejects war, political instability, or public emergency as justifications; requires states to prevent torture, criminalize it, review detention practices, investigate allegations impartially, prosecute offenders, provide redress and compensation, and exclude statements obtained through torture from legal proceedings. The final two pages reproduce Resolution 3453 (XXX), which calls for further international work on detention, imprisonment, police ethics, medical ethics, and implementation of the declaration, including future review by the General Assembly.

Key points

• Resolution 3452 (XXX) adopts an international declaration prohibiting torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
• The declaration defines torture as the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain for specified investigative, punitive, or coercive purposes.
• No exceptional circumstance, including war, internal political instability, or public emergency, may justify torture.
• States are instructed to prevent torture, train relevant officials, review interrogation and detention practices, and criminalize torture under national law.
• Allegations must receive impartial examination and investigation, including when no formal complaint has been made.
• Victims are to receive redress and compensation, while statements obtained through torture may not be used as evidence.
• Resolution 3453 (XXX) extends the agenda to detention safeguards, police ethics, medical ethics, and continued international monitoring.