Treatment of conflict-related detainees in Afghan custody

"UNAMA's report Treatment of Conflict-Related Detainees in Afghan Custody: One Year On is based on interviews with 635 conflict-related detainees held by the Afghan National Police, National Directorate of Security, Afghan National Army or Afghan Local Police, visits to 89 detention facilities in 30 provinces from October 2011 to October 2012, extensive interviews with multiple relevant interlocutors and on rigorous analysis, corroboration and examination of documentary and other material. The National Directorate of Security and the Ministry of Interior provided access to detention facilities and met with UNAMA over the observation period to share appropriate information, and to discuss concerns and follow up measures. Using internationally accepted methodology, standards and best practices, UNAMA found that more than half (326) of 635 conflict-related detainees interviewed experienced ill-treatment and torture particularly in 34 facilities of the Afghan National Police (ANP) and the National Directorate of Security (NDS) between October 2011 and October 2012. Torture, as defined and prohibited under Afghan and international law, took the form of abusive interrogation techniques in which Afghan officials inflicted severe pain and suffering on detainees during interrogations aimed mainly at obtaining a confession or information. Fourteen methods of torture and ill-treatment were described similar to practices previously documented by UNAMA. The study found that while the incidence of torture in ANP facilities increased compared to the previous period (125 of 286 ANP conflict-related detainees or 43 per cent experienced torture or ill-treatment compared with 35 per cent in the previous 12-month period), detainees interviewed in NDS custody experienced torture and ill-treatment at a rate that was lower than the previous period (178 of 514 detainees or 34 per cent, experienced torture down 12 per cent from the previous year, when 46 per cent reported torture or ill-treatment in NDS). Numerous detainees were held and ill-treated in both ANP and NDS facilities or by other Afghan authorities."