Report No. 152

4.6. Torture defined.-

The Convention against torture, (1984) defines the term 'torture' as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession punishing him for an act (which) he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any act based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by, or at the instigation or with consent or acquiescence of, a public official or other person acting in an official capacity but does not include pain or suffering arising only from action inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions (Article 1).