Mr. Moderator, we have noted in this brief intervention only some of our concerns. I would conclude by emphasizing that the United States supports the ongoing work of the OSCE Advisory Panel for the Prevention of Torture which contributed to the recently released handbook on preventing torture for use by OSCE field staff. I would urge those genuinely committed to the prevention of torture to take full advantage of the expertise of that Advisory Panel. The United States encourages all participating States to adopt and implement adequate safeguards to prevent, and punish those responsible for, torture. States should severely limit, if not, eliminate the practice of incommunicado detention, granting the timely access of detainees to family, legal counsel, or independent medical professionals.
Transparency is essential to the prevention of torture.
It is high time to stop this practice that is so manifestly incompatible with OSCE precepts.