BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:State Security\, Torture and the Law - Dr. Onder Ozkalipci (Medica
 l Expert)\, Dr. Carla Ferstman (REDRESS) and Dr. Lutz Oette (SOAS)
DTSTART:20170302T170000Z
DTEND:20170302T183000Z
UID:TALK71133@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Nikta Daijavad
DESCRIPTION:The attacks of 9/11 served as the trigger that turned security
  into a priority paradigm in both international relations and domestic pol
 icies. This development has constituted an extremely challenging test for 
 the international human rights system.\nNotwithstanding the absolute natur
 e of the prohibition of torture\, states\, academics and commentators incr
 easingly argued that there should be exceptions where torture is permitted
  so as to fight terrorism more effectively. These arguments have been larg
 ely rebuffed at the judicial level but it is clear that\nthe prohibition o
 f torture has suffered in the process. One of the latest examples is Turke
 y\, where\, following the failed coup attempt in the summer of 2016\, the 
 Turkish government removed several crucial safeguards protecting detainees
  from the threat of torture. In a world where\nstrong men are in the ascen
 dancy and where national security is readily assumed to trump other consid
 erations\, those at risk of torture\, torture survivors and anti-torture a
 dvocates have a daily fight on their hands to ensure the right both to be 
 free from torture and to justice for having been subjected to torture.\nDr
 . Onder Ozkalipci\, Dr. Carla Ferstman and Dr. Lutz Oette will against thi
 s background be discussing challenges to the absolute prohibition of tortu
 re\, the importance of the documentation of torture and the struggle again
 st torture in Turkey\, and experiences in the litigation of torture cases\
 , drawing on their extensive work in the field.\nDr. Ozkalipci is a medica
 l expert and veteran human rights defenders who has treated hundreds of vi
 ctims of torture. He played a leading role in the adoption of the Istanbul
  Protocol\, a pivotal manual on the documentation and investigation of tor
 ture\, and has worked on the issue of torture with bodies and organisation
 s such as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the 
 International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims. Dr. Ferstman is 
 the director of REDRESS (www.redress.org)\, an international human rights 
 organisation seeking justice for torture survivors\, which has been instru
 mental in promoting the right to reparation for torture survivors and in l
 itigating torture cases before national\, regional and international court
 s and bodies. Dr. Oette is a senior lecturer in law at SOAS\, University o
 f London\, who has worked in the field of\, and published widely on\, the 
 prohibition of torture. He is the co-author\, together with Ilias Bantekas
 \, of International human rights law and practice (2nd edition\, Cambridge
  University Press\, 2016).\nThe event will take place on Thursday\, 2 Marc
 h\, at 5:00pm in Mill Lane Lecture Room 4. Admission is free\, but please 
 reserve a spot beforehand at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co
 m/e/state-security-torture-and-the-law-tickets-32083896799.
LOCATION:Mill Lane Lecture Room 4
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR