Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CAT)

CAT is an international human rights treaty adopted in 1984. The UK agreed to follow it in 1988.

By following CAT, the UK agrees to prevent acts of torture in connection with activities that include:

• returning, expelling or extraditing someone to another country where there are real grounds to believe he or she will face torture
• arrest, detention and imprisonment
• interrogation
• the training of police (civil or military), medical staff, public officials and anyone else who may be involved in the arrest, detention and questioning of a person

The UN last examined how well the UK is implementing CAT and published recommendations in May 2019. These included:

• protecting people seeking asylum, victims of trafficking and exploitation, patients, detainees and people who are restrained
• preventing violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse and hate crime
• responding to allegations of British involvement in the mistreatment of overseas detainees
• ensuring people who are at risk of ill-treatment can get legal help
• reducing overcrowding and improving conditions in prisons
• developing our counter-terrorism strategy
• incorporating CAT into UK domestic law

The most recent work we have produced as part of our CAT monitoring includes:

• a follow-up report the Committee's Concluding Observations (May 2020)
• an update report outlining our recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments regarding its record under CAT (May 2019)
• our guide for civil society organisations on how to use CAT (May 2018)  
• our submission to the UN Committee Against Torture (PDF) (March 2016) - Welsh version (PDF)
• our initial submission on UK compliance with CAT (PDF) (January 2016)
• a follow-up on Concluding Observations by the Committee Against Torture (PDF) on the UK (September 2014)
• an updated response to the Committee Against Torture's list of issues (Word) (April 2013)
• our response to the Committee against Torture's list of issues (PDF) (August 2012)