SOURCE The Avalon Project at Yale Law School. Available from http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm

INTRODUCTION This treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1974 and is designed to prevent and punish torture when committed with the involvement of public officials, whether directly acting or acquiescing or condoning the acts when committed by private parties. The Convention adds to international law by defining precisely the act of torture and setting forth the obligations of states parties to combat it. The Convention declares expressly that there are "no exceptional circumstances whatsoever" that would justify torture and that no orders from superior officers may provide a justification. The Convention also sets forth a set of measures and institutions at the international level to supervise compliance by states...