Glenn Greenwald's interview with UN Rapporteur Nowak (transcript)

[EFerrari]

Saturday April 25, 2009 10:11 EDT
Transcript: Interview with U.N. torture official Manfred Novak

Earlier this week, I interviewed Manfred Nowak, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, regarding America's obligations under its treaties and international law to investigate and prosecute allegations of torture and provide legal remedies for torture victims to have their day in court. The podcast recording, and background on these issues, is here. Following is the transcript of the interview:

Glenn Greenwald: My guest today is Manfred Nowak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, and he's also a law professor in Austria. He made news this week when he stated that President Obama's announced policy of immunizing CIA officials who tortured detainees violates international law as well as America's treaty obligations. Professor Nowak, thanks very much for joining me today.

Manfred Nowak: Thank you. You're welcome.

GG: Before I ask you about the specific issues involved in that statement, could you just describe for us what your position with the United Nations is, what does it do, what's its authority?

MN: I am United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. That is a global mandate for all countries in the world. I report to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, which is the highest political body consisting of state representatives dealing with human rights in the United Nations, and I report to the General Assembly directly in New York. And my work is dealing on a daily basis with complaints from victims, families, non-governmental organizations, about torture.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/25/nowak/index.html?source=rss&aim=/opinion/greenwald

[seemslikeadream]

1. thanks I'm going to listen to it now

[mmonk]

2. Thank you.

[Duer 157099]

3. K n R because it's important n/t

[The Magistrate]

4. A Pleasure To Give This Its First Recommendation, Ma'am

Thank you for sharing it. It is an excellent piece, which all will benefit by reading closely.

[EFerrari]

5. Thank you for the recs!

:kick:

[Kaleko]

6. Another well-deserved rec.

[The Magistrate]

7. A Kick For The Evening Shift: This Is Worth Reading, My Friends

[Solly Mack]

8. K&R

[EFerrari]

9. kICK