United Nations Human Rights Council

58^th Session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment, Dr Alice J. Edwards

4 March 2025

EU Statement

Madam Special Rapporteur,

The EU would like to voice its firm appreciation and strong support to your work and, indeed, to your mandate as such. The EU will continue to condemn the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment around the world.

The position you are occupying was created exactly 40 years ago. Much progress has been achieved since but unfortunately, we are not even close to eradicating torture and, hence, your work remains as pertinent as ever. The EU expresses concern over the increased use of torture or ill-treatment. The EU highlights torture-free trade as a crucial step towards its full elimination and considers further steps to ban global trade in goods used for this purpose.

In your thematic report to this Council, you address the issue of hostage-taking as a form of torture, and its increased use that demands collective international attention. We note with concern your reporting of a rise in the number of arbitrary detentions in state-to-state relations.

You refer to the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages as a fundamental international norm providing definitions and setting out measures to be taken by States to give effect to the prohibition of hostage-taking. The EU takes note of the 176 States Parties to the Convention but also the relative deceleration in the number of ratifications in recent years. 

Madam Special Rapporteur, the EU would like to ask you:

In your view, what are the obstacles to the full implementation of the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, and what can States do to ensure its reinvigoration?

Thank you.