UN tells France to respect rights while fighting terror

Record ID: 103712

  • Title: UN tells France to respect rights while fighting terror
  • Date: 13th May 2016
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MAY 13, 2016) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING UN EXPERTS ON TORTURE DURING NEWS BRIEFING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) UN EXPERT ON TORTURE, ALESSIO BRUNI, SAYING: "We have received reports referring to pretty tough interventions and raids being carried out by the police, for instance during the night or while minors where there." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (French) UN EXPERT ON TORTURE, ALESSIO BRUNI, SAYING: "We have reminded France that any measure aiming at fighting terrorism must take into account the fact that human rights must also be respected, and that more specifically any kind of mistreatment, or torture - any kind of mistreatment must be forbidden in the most absolute manner." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2016 15:37
  • Keywords: France security United Nations terrorism police raids
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HN6JPJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: UN experts on Friday (May 13) reminded France that human rights must remain protected while the country tackles the rising threat of terrorism.
    The Committee against torture is a UN body composed of 10 independent experts, which monitors the implementation of the Convention against torture by its member states - such as France - by periodically reviewing these member states.
    In its final conclusions, the Committee said it was concerned with reports referring to an excessive use of force by the police under the current state of emergency, which had in some raids had psychological consequences on people whose houses had been raided.
    "We have received reports referring to pretty tough interventions and raids being carried out by the police, for instance during the night or while minors where there," one of the UN's experts on torture, Alessio Bruni, told Reuters TV.
    France's parliament voted on Tuesday (May 10) to extend a state of emergency in place since November's Paris attacks, which gives extra powers to police and security forces.
    "We have reminded France that any measure aiming at fighting terrorism must take into account the fact that human rights must also be respected, and that more specifically any kind of mistreatment, or torture - any kind of mistreatment must be forbidden in the most absolute manner," Bruni added.
    The Committee also recommended that France make sure that victims of excessive use of force be able to file a complaint, that investigations be conducted, and that the people responsible be punished.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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