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Such experiences cause severe pain and suffering, which can result in a deterioration of mental health and lead to depression, self-isolation and suicidal thoughts. (...) Firstly, the Special Rapporteur heard reports of cases of what she has already identified as the perverse consequences of the mercantilization of health (A/HRC/41/47), which are at the root of a substantive number of the difficulties associated with the medical treatment of the disease, such as neuropathic pain, Hansen’s disease reactions and the iatrogenic effects of some of the drugs employed in treating the disease, such as clofazimine, which can produce changes in skin colour, becoming a stigmatizing mark of the disease for these 25 On the concept of intersectionality, see Patricia Hill Collins, Black feminist thought: knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment (Boston, Unwin Hyman, 1990) and Avtar Brah and Ann Phoenix, “Ain’t I a woman? (...) Furthermore, as a result of the social roles that continue to be attributed mainly to women, many women described how physical impairments, sometimes invisible ones like neuropathic pain and loss of sensation, made the performance of house work, childcare and care of other family members increasingly painful. 51.

Initially, the blisters “did not cause a significant amount of pain”, but by the second day the pain was described by both casualties as “burning sensation on the hands, forearms, elbows, and feet” and “burning in the eyes”. (...) Some of these scars do appear similar to thermal burns; however, it is possibly due to inadequate treatment. 5.25 The casualties described losing vision with gradual restoration of sight and a burning sensation in the eyes, which is typical for sulfur mustard exposure; however, there was no indication of blepharitis, which is a common condition. 5.26 Both patients complained of some shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. 5.27 Overall, the history, presentation of the casualties, and subsequent treatment appears to be consistent with exposure to sulfur mustard. Video recording of the Director of Afrine Hospital 5.28 In a recorded interview with the Technical Committee of the Authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic, referring to the two casualties described above, the Medical Director of Afrine Hospital stated that both casualties had blisters on their faces, as well as the hands, feet and body and that they were in pain. His description is consistent with what was obtained from the casualties during interviews. 5.29 The Medical Director indicated that the Afrine Hospital Laboratory found evidence of “mustard gas” in blood and plasma samples taken from the patients.

By putting his foot on the handcuffs the policeman then pressed/pushed the detainee’s hands and arms towards the floor, causing severe pain in the arms, shoulders and back. Several sources reported that threats were used to intimidate detainees. 50.

They include visible physical impairments, such as irreversible damage to the skin, nerves, hands, feet, limbs and eyes, and disfigurement, blindness, loss of sensation, chronic wounds and neuropathic pain. Many of these impairments and disabilities are aggravated by conditions related to old age, such as orthopaedic diseases, metabolic syndromes, cancer, depression and loss of cognitive functions.

However, the definition contained in article 208 is not consistent with article 1 of the Convention against Torture, and this has been noted with concern by the CAT in its concluding observations of 26 July 1995.2 The definition in article 208, among other things, does not differentiate between private actors and public officials; it does not, or only partly, cover the infliction of mental pain or suffering; and does not impose sanctions that reflect the gravity of the crime, which is regarded a misdemeanour. 14.

Torture is defined under its article 12 as: “any act which causes severe pain, whether physical or mental, to any other person, being an act, which is (a) Done for any of the following purposes that is to say (i) Obtaining from such other person or a third person, any information or confession; (ii) Punishing such other person for any act which he or a third person has committed, or is suspected of having committed; or (iii) Intimidating or coercing such other person or a third person; or done for any reason based on discrimination, and being in every case, an act which is done by, or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public officer or other person acting in an official capacity”. 25. (...) The Supreme Court has in its jurisprudence interpreted torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person by a public official acting in the discharge of his executive or administrative duties or under colour of office for such purposes as obtaining from the victim or a third person a confession or information, imposing a penalty on the victim … or coercing the victim or third person to do or refrain doing something”. 18 65. (...) Application No. 4/88, 6 and 7 October 1988: Per Fernando, J.: “An impairment of personality - the violation of those interests which every man has, as a matter of natural right, in the possession of an unimpaired person, dignity and reputation, and whether it be a public or private right - committed with wrongful intent established liability in the actio injuriarum; patrimonial loss, as well as damages for mental pain, suffering and distress can be recovered. When the Constitution recognized the right set out in article 11, even if it was a totally new right, these principles of the common law applied, and the wrongdoer who violated that right became liable, and his master too, if the wrong was committed in the course of employment.

Authorised restraint techniques The approved methods of restraint in young offender institutions and secure training centres do not meet internationally agreed standards, which prohibit the use of intentional pain. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture recommended the discontinuation of the use of manual restraint based upon pain compliant methods. (...) 'Control and restraint' is a system that uses holds which can be intensified to cause pain. 'Physical control in care' authorises the use of distraction techniques such as the thumb technique. The UK government is currently rolling out a new system of restraint to be used across young offender institutions and secure training centres. However, pain-compliant techniques remain part of the new restraint system, and a new ‘mandibular angle technique’ has been introduced.

Joint submissions: JS1 Joint submission 1 submitted by: Fondation Pain d'Espoir (Bread of Hope Foundation), Génération Justice (GENEJ), Centre d'Encadrement des Personnes à Besoins Spéciaux (Center for the Care of Persons with Special Needs), Haiti; JS2 Joint submission 2 submitted by: La Coalisation des Organisations des Droits Humains de l’Artibonite (CODHA), Haiti; A/HRC/WG.6/40/HTI/3 GE.21-15708 7 JS3 Joint submission 3 submitted by. (...) A/HRC/WG.6/40/HTI/3 8 GE.21-15708 16 For relevant recommendations see A/HRC/34/14, paras. 115.72-115.115.81, 115.116-115.126. 17 La Coalition des organisations haïtiennes des droits humains pour l'EPU (COHADH-EPU) – JS3 page 7. 18 Combite pour la Paix et le Développement (CPD) page 6. 19 RNDDH submission para 136. 20 L’Organisation des Citoyens pour une Nouvelle Haïti (OCNH), page 4. 21 The Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (“BAI”) and the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (“IJDH”) submission- JS 8. 22 Rapport d’Enquete de la Plate-forme des Femmes Organisées pour le Développement de l’Artibonite (PLAFODA). 23 Rapport d’Enquete de la Plate-forme des Femmes Organisées pour le Développement de l’Artibonite (PLAFODA). 24 Rapport de la Confédération Syndicale Internationale (CSI). 25 Rapport de la Confédération Syndicale Internationale (CSI). 26 Rapport de la Confédération Syndicale Internationale (CSI). 27 Rapport de la Confédération Syndicale Internationale (CSI). 28 For the relevant recommendations, see A/HRC/34/14, paras. 115.145-115.152. 29 Helvetas Haïti et avec des Organisations de la Société Civile (OSC) travaillant sur la thématique de l'eau, assainissement et hygiène (WASH), JS7 para 28. 30 Helvetas Haïti et avec des Organisations de la Société Civile (OSC) travaillant sur la thématique de l'eau, assainissement et hygiène (WASH), JS 7 paras 30-32. 31 For the relevant recommendations, see A/HRC/34/14, paras. 115.153-115.155. 32 Rapport de la Ligue Haïtienne des Droits de l’Homme, JS 9. 33 Rapport de la Ligue Haïtienne des Droits de l’Homme, JS 9. 34 La Coalisation des Organisations des Droits Humains de l’Artibonite (CODHA), JS2 page 8. 35 Edmund Rice International submission- JS5. 36 For the relevant recommendations, see A/HRC/34/14, paras. 115.156-115.162. 37 La coalition d’organisations haïtiennes et régionales de la société civile sur la situation du droit à l’éducation, JS 6 paras 40-43. 38 La coalition d’organisations haïtiennes et régionales de la société civile sur la situation du droit à l’éducation, JS 6 para 44. 39 La coalition d’organisations haïtiennes et régionales de la société civile sur la situation du droit à l’éducation, JS 6 para 30. 40 For relevant recommendations see A/HRC/34/14, paras. 115.82-115.97. 41 Fondation Pain d'Espoir (Bread of Hope Foundation), Génération Justice (GENEJ), Centre d'Encadrement des Personnes à Besoins Spéciaux (Center for the Care of Persons with Special Needs) - JS1, pages 5-6. 42 La Coalisation des Organisations des Droits Humains de l’Artibonite (CODHA), JS2 page 7. 43 La Coalisation des Organisations des Droits Humains de l’Artibonite (CODHA), JS2 page 7. 44 Combite pour la Paix et le Développement (CPD) page 3. 45 For relevant recommendations see A/HRC/34/14, paras. 115.98-115.109. 46 Fondation Pain d'Espoir (Bread of Hope Foundation), Génération Justice (GENEJ), Centre d'Encadrement des Personnes à Besoins Spéciaux (Center for the Care of Persons with Special Needs) - JS1, page 4. 47 Fondation Pain d'Espoir (Bread of Hope Foundation), Génération Justice (GENEJ), Centre d'Encadrement des Personnes à Besoins Spéciaux (Center for the Care of Persons with Special Needs) - JS1, page 5. 48 Fondation Pain d'Espoir (Bread of Hope Foundation), Génération Justice (GENEJ), Centre d'Encadrement des Personnes à Besoins Spéciaux (Center for the Care of Persons with Special Needs) - JS1, pages 7 and 9. 49 European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), paras 11-14. 50 European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), paras 11-14. 51 European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), paras 11-14. 52 Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, JS4 page 2. 53 Rapport présenté par l’Organisation des Enfants Chrétiens Haïtiens (OECH), page 5.

Article 4 contains a legal sanctions clause by which physical or mental pain inherent in legal punishments do not fall under the definition of torture. (...) The same punishment is foreseen in case a public servant incites, orders, forces or authorizes a third person or makes use of him or her to inflict serious pain or suffering on a person, whether physical or psychological; or does not prevent such pain A/HRC/13/39/Add.4 GE.10-10188 7 or suffering from being inflicted on a person in custody. (...) Another victim complained about pain in his thumb and forefinger as a result of the prolonged tight application of handcuffs.

As a result, he complained that he continued to experience pain in his arms and legs. 2. Patan (Jawalakhel) Police Office (12 September 2005) 5. (...) At the time of the visit, he complained of continued pain due to the scarring on his back, and consequent difficulty sleeping.