Although high profile instances of incidents of torture have resulted in a modest increase in human rights and mass media attention, mostly the international community’s reaction has been erratic and inconsistent, according to a new book by an ANU PhD student.

According to Mr Peter Reddy, a doctoral student in the Regulatory Institutions Network at ANU, the transformation of torture from an element in the legal process to a universally condemned crime is unique.

“The more high profile instances, such as that of Chile’s Pinochet and Iraq’s Sadaam Hussein, have no doubt contributed to an increase in human rights concerns in large measure,” Mr Reddy said.

“Essentially, torture is carried out by ordinary human beings against other essentially ordinary human beings,” he said. “Torture is not an innate behaviour. Like most crimes and their perpetrators, what torturers do is out of the ordinary but mostly they themselves are not.”

According to Mr Reddy the history of torture is long and surprisingly well documented. In the book, Torture: What You Need To Know, he discusses some of the popular ideas that have described and justified the practice of torture, practices which for the most part have been accompanied by deep unease.

“The purpose of this book is to present an objective description of the crime of torture,” Reddy said. “Although it does speak of the unspeakable, this is not about a display of shocking and exciting gore. It does include some possible responses and potential solutions.

“The goals of torture are discussed, as are a range of definitions that have their bases in law, medicine and psychology,” he said.

There are strategies that may lead to the decrease and prevention of torture which offer genuine hope for the future. These include new strategies for accountability, an emphasis on the rule of law, ethical codes and the establishment of truth and reconciliation commissions.

“One of the greatest obstacles to the eradication of torture is the fact that so few torturers are brought to account despite the illegality of their acts,” Mr Reddy said. “Political will, supported by societal revulsion of its use, and an expectation of accountability in the actions of the state, are essential in going beyond the paper systems which many states have constructed to give the appearance of respect for human rights.”

Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the Regulatory Institutions Network at ANU, Hilary Charlesworth, said the book provided a realistic view of the role of law in preventing torture.

“It pays considerable attention to the role of law, both in domestic legal systems and internationally, but also emphasises other strategies, such as critiquing political debate, media depictions and education programs in order to give prominence to respect for the humanity of each individual,” Professor Charlesworth said.

Mr Reddy, who has served in the Australian Army, holds a Masters of Criminology and his research interests include criminology and human rights, particularly the crime of torture. His PhD thesis applies a restorative justice approach to the design and implementation of peace operations in Somalia and Bougainville.

Torture: What You Need To Know, is published by Ginninderra Press.

Further Information

Amanda Morgan
Media Liaison
Tel: 02 6125 5575 / 0416 249 245
Email: Amanda.Morgan@anu.edu.au