UN Special Rapporteur finds a British National Degrading State

In a report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council on 24 February 2016, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other remorseless, inhuman or debasing treatment or discipline, Juan E. Méndez, has concluded that Panama has neglected to fulfill its obligations to ensure the physical and mental integrity of Mr. Nicholas Tuffney, by exposing him to conditions of detention which constituted inhuman or corrupting treatment, contrary to articles 1 and 16 of the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

From June 2013 and October 2014, the United Kingdom and United States resident, Nicholas Tuffney, had been detained in Panamanian detention offices, which were jampacked, improper and unsanitary; without access to satisfactory sustenance, water, healthcare, and cover; and where he was subjected to maltreatment at the hands of those accused of his consideration.

Mr. Tuffney had the capacity to clandestinely film while in one of the prisons he was being held, La Joya Prison, utilizing a watch which had a worked in camera. Altogether, Mr. Tuffney had more than 600 hours of film and photographs, which recorded the broad and tenacious ill-treatment he and other prisoners in La Joya Prison endured.

Special Rapporteur Juan E. Méndez lamented the lack of answer from the Government of Panama to the communication of the Special Rapporteur dated 26 October 2015. He concluded that without a response, there was adequate proof to conclude that the Government of Panama had neglected to fulfill its obligations to ensure the psychical and mental integrity of Mr. Tuffney. The Rapporteur found that:

"the Government of Panama has neglected to fulfill its obligations to ensure the physical and mental integrity Mr. Nicholas Tuffney, to expose him to conditions inside the prison constituted inhuman or debasing treatment, under articles 1 and 16 of the Convention against Torture (CAT)."

The Special Rapporteur asked the Government of Panama to pitch the advancements on this case and reiterated its call to the Government to start the investigation, prosecution, and conceivable conviction of those liable of maltreatment and to give reparations to Mr. Tuffney.

The prison alluded to above, La Joya Prison, was a similar prison where Ambassador Arthur Porter was being held before he kicked the bucket from lung malignancy in a medical clinic in Panama in June 2015. The Special Rapporteur concluded in his February 2016 report that the passing of Mr. Porter could be connected to the deprivation of health services.

The report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other coldblooded, inhuman or corrupting treatment or discipline is available on the web.

Mr. Nicholas Tuffney is being represented by John Jones QC and Graeme Hall. Mr. Watchman was represented by John Jones QC.