PRESS RELEASE

Extraordinary Rendition Paper

December 1st 2005

Geneva Switzerland – The United States government practice of “extraordinary renditions” is a violation of international laws against torture that is resulting in ‘crimes against humanity,” according to a complaint filed November 23rd, 2005 with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights by internationally recognized experts on international humanitarian law.

The complaint cites recent news reports of the international kidnapping of terror suspects by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, with the suspects then being transported and “rendered” into the hands of governments that practice torture for purpose of gathering intelligence information.

The UN Human Rights Commission is being asked to take immediate action to put an end to the renditions, which are said to violate the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Geneva Conventions.

The complaint was filed by Professor Francis Boyle and Lawyers Against the War – LAW. Boyle, a member of LAW and a lawyer, is internationally known as a humanitarian law expert and has authored a number of books on this subject. As well, Boyle has advised numerous international bodies in the areas of human rights, war crimes, genocide, nuclear policy and bio-warfare. LAW is an international committee of jurists and others in 14 countries that advocates for the rule of law and adherence to international law and against impunity for offenders.

The complaint says the CIA practice “threatens to negate the entirely of the international legal regime for the protection of human rights” established by the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and numerous other international human rights treaties including the Convention against Torture.

The commission is being asked to expedite its normal procedures due to the gravity of the situation. It is expected that the United States will be notified of the complaint and allowed to respond as the next step in the process.

A copy of the complaint and accompanying correspondence is available on request.

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