Who this is relevant for
We work with individuals, families and national counsel who need a carefully prepared Article 22 complaint or an independent review of its admissibility. Cases involving imminent removal require local legal intervention in the state controlling deportation or extradition, because international filing does not automatically suspend removal.
Scope and procedure
CAT is a treaty body, not the Special Rapporteur on torture. Its communication mechanism has respondent-state recognition, domestic-remedies and other admissibility conditions. Article 3 addresses non-refoulement in relation to torture risk. A general country report may supply context, but personal circumstances and the anticipated treatment of the individual require specific evidence.
Evidence, strategy and submission preparation
We map alleged violations to Convention obligations, review national asylum or extradition decisions and record relevant deadlines. For risk-of-removal matters we build a personal-risk table covering prior threats, detention, political profile, location, prior protection claims and officially documented country context. The legal strategy must include coordination with local counsel for protective court measures.
Practical checklist
- Verify the respondent state's declaration accepting Article 22 complaints.
- Collect enforceable deportation, removal or extradition orders with dates.
- Identify individualised evidence of foreseeable torture risk.
- Provide the national remedies and parallel international proceedings history.
- Assess urgent steps in the jurisdiction that can physically prevent transfer.
Key considerations and documents
| Issue | What to verify |
|---|---|
| CAT Article 3 | Personal danger of torture if removed to a destination state. |
| Article 22 | State acceptance of individual complaints and applicable procedural conditions. |
| National protection | Appeals, interim domestic orders and enforceability of removal. |
| Interim measures | Separate request based on an identified imminent irreparable risk. |
What outcomes and limitations should you expect?
Submission to CAT does not itself confer asylum, freeze a national extradition process or establish an enforceable stay. The Committee's ability to consider the case depends on its own rules and the state's legal position. Seek local emergency representation whenever a transfer may happen soon.
How our team can help
Our assistance is scoped in writing: initial eligibility and risk review; document and chronology preparation; independent research; drafting and quality assurance; and, where relevant, coordination with admitted counsel. We explain deliverables and exclusions before an engagement and never charge for privileged access to a UN process.
Frequently asked questions
Does every CAT state accept Article 22 complaints?
No. Individual-complaint competence requires a specific declaration or other applicable legal basis.
Will filing cancel a deportation order?
No. National protective remedies and any separate interim-measures procedure need immediate evaluation.
Can the same situation be sent to the Special Rapporteur on torture?
Potentially different mechanisms may be relevant, but overlap and parallel-procedure implications must be assessed first.
Request an assessment
Request an Article 22 assessment and a removal-risk evidence checklist tailored to the respondent state.
Next step: Request a confidential case assessment.
Related pages
- UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) Individual Complaints
- Interim Measures Requests in UN Treaty Body Cases
- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel Treatment
- Extradition, Deportation and Human Rights Complaints to the UN
Official references
- OHCHR official submissions portal
- OHCHR individual complaints FAQ
- OHCHR treaty body jurisprudence database
Independent informational website. Not an official United Nations or OHCHR service. UN mechanisms assess matters independently; filing does not guarantee intervention, an outcome or a particular timeline.