Who this is relevant for
Potential applicants include people alleging torture or ill-treatment within the Convention's scope and individuals confronting deportation or extradition to circumstances presenting a serious personal risk. Each case needs a precise Convention analysis and a review of the state's Article 22 declaration, not just general concerns about the destination country.
Scope and procedure
CAT is a treaty body with admissibility rules. It is different from the Special Rapporteur on torture and from domestic asylum or extradition courts. Domestic remedies, prior or parallel proceedings, chronology and evidence can determine whether the Committee can consider an individual communication.
Evidence, strategy and submission preparation
Document personal risk indicators, prior treatment, official custody records, credible threats, family or political context and destination information. For removal matters, include the date and enforceability of domestic decisions and the actual timetable for deportation or extradition. Interim measures may be relevant but cannot be presumed to be granted.
Practical checklist
- Verify the respondent state's Article 22 recognition.
- Collect relevant national court and administrative removal decisions.
- Distinguish personal risk evidence from general country background.
- Identify any time-sensitive removal date and immediately available local steps.
- Disclose prior international consideration of substantially the same matter.
Key considerations and documents
| Issue | What to verify |
|---|---|
| CAT Article 3 | Non-refoulement where substantial grounds indicate danger of torture. |
| Other CAT rights | Convention-specific obligations assessed under applicable competence. |
| Article 22 jurisdiction | State declaration and eligibility requirements. |
| Urgent protection | Interim measures may be requested in appropriate pending communications. |
What outcomes and limitations should you expect?
A communication does not automatically stop an aircraft departure or replace a domestic stay order. Committee action, admissibility and final findings are independent. Urgent removal cases require immediate qualified counsel in the jurisdiction controlling the transfer.
How our team can help
We offer a structured admissibility screen, domestic-remedies timeline, treaty-rights mapping, evidence index and draft communication, where representation is legally permissible. We distinguish interim measures requests from final merits consideration, and do not represent that registration equals admissibility or success.
Frequently asked questions
Can I complain to CAT against any country?
No. Individual-complaint competence must be recognised under Article 22 and other requirements met.
Can a CAT filing stop extradition?
Filing alone is not an automatic stay. Protective measures and domestic remedies must be evaluated urgently.
Is a Special Rapporteur appeal the same as a CAT complaint?
No. One is a Special Procedures communication and the other a treaty-body individual mechanism.
Request an assessment
Request an Article 22 and removal-risk assessment before investing in full drafting.
Next step: Request a confidential case assessment.
Related pages
- Committee Against Torture (CAT) Individual Complaint Assistance
- Interim Measures Requests in UN Treaty Body Cases
- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel Treatment
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.