FAQ: What is torture?
It is torture when the following is fulfilled:
- strong pain or suffering is inflicted, either physically or
mentally
- forced confessions, information, or punishments are sought
- it is a public authority which undertakes, encourages or
consents to the use of torture.
All three points must be fulfilled according to the UN
Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading
treatment or punishment.
The purpose of torture is not to kill, but to break down the
personality of individuals. Torture is often used as a political
instrument to help the rulers to keep control in the country.
Torture is especially known from states that rest on one single
party of one particular political or religious opinion. By breaking
down people's personalities and in that way suppressing a
population, the possibility arises to weaken the political
resistance. By afflicting random people as well, fear will arise in
the population. The purpose of torture may also be to force
prisoners to become informers.
Often, methods that do not create permanent, visible damage are
used in order to make it difficult to document torture. The torture
methods can be both physical and mental.