Torture -2
I hope you’ve been spreading the word on our previous discussion.
Moving on from our previous discussion, Section 2 of the Act gives a clear explanation of actions that can be considered torture and these are actions by which pain and suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person to –
- Obtain information or confession from him or a third person;
- Punish him for an act he or a third person has committed or suspected of having committed;
- Intimidate or coerce him or third person for any reason based on discrimination of any kind
Emphasis on the "intentional" part.
So if you and a friend or someone unintentionally causes you physicial or mental pain, such action cannot be termed torture.
This section goes further to state several acts that can be considered as torture, a few are :
- Systematic beatings, head-banging, punching, kicking, striking with rifle butts and jumping on the stomach,
- Food deprivation or forcible feeding with spoiled food, animal or human excreta or other food not normally eaten,
- Electric shocks,
- Cigarette burning, burning by electric heated rods, hot oil, acid, by the rubbing of pepper or other chemical substances on mucous membranes, or acids or spices directly on the wounds,
- The submersion of head in water or water polluted with excrement urine, vomit or blood,
- Dental torture or forced extraction of teeth, e.t.c ( I genuinely don’t know why a human being would do this to another human being!)
Section 3 of the Act explains that there is no event or circumstance that can justify the act of torture on a citizen of Nigeria, be it a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency.
This section also explains that secret detention facilities, solitary confinement e.t.c where torture may be carried out are prohibited.
There is a particular thing I love about this section and that is the fact that it makes it clear that any evidence obtained via torture is inadmissible, that is, it cannot be used in a court. (Utterly useless!).
Except if it would be used against a person accused of torture, that is, to prove that the act of torture actually happened.
Section 4 of the Act gives an individual who is alleging that he has bern tortured, a right to complain and have his case promptly and impartially examined by a competent authority.
This competent authority has a duty to ensure that the person bringing a complain is protected from any ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of him bringing his complain.
Once again, I’d be pausing here in order to aid a concise work
See you next time lovelies!
Thank you for reading this article, I know you found this really helpful so do well to share to lots, lots of people.
The goal is to ensure that majority of the Nigerian citizens are aware of these rights
Let’s make that happen together!
Original image credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=torture+meaning+&client=ms-android-samsung-gj-rev1&sxsrf=AOaemvJ-3ArSL-F_GjRBJZB5aAh93r2Row%3A1637672049905&ei=ceScYc7JNrqUxc8PuMaXiAU&oq=torture+meaning+&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEcyBAgAEEdQkwxYwB5g6iBoAHABeACAAQCIAQCSAQCYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
Author: Esther Ude.
