Figure 4
Percentage of violations in April
[n=477]
With the high frequency of reported assault [GBH], allegations about torture need to be considered.
Here the cases were examined to see how many would conform to the definitions contained in the
United Nations Convention Against Torture and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court:
pain and suffering [physical or psychological], done with intent, for a purpose, and done by a state
agent or with the approval of the state. Using this criterion, 285[59%] of the cases of assault [GBH]
would be classified as torture, and, as can be seen from Figure 5 [below], many abuses characteristic
of torture – falanga, deliberate burning, use of restraints, and forms of asphyxiation – were reported.
Furthermore, there were very high frequencies of displacement reported, which not only reflects the
destruction of property, but also the extreme fear experienced. Although it was not possible to
determine the frequency of psychological torture, both as a consequence of direct violence as well as
the threats and intimidation experienced, 180[38%] and 287[60%] of the cases reported threats and
intimidation respectively, and this can be taken as an indication of the extent of psychological torture.