United Nations Human Rights Council

The Republic of Ghana

The issues before the Republic of Ghana are:

1) The use of torture and degrading treatment to war prisoners

2) The violation of rights of refugees

I The Republic of Ghana’s role in the prevention of the use of torture and degrading treatment to
war prisoners

The Republic of Ghana expresses its continued commitment to the prevention of use of torture
and degrading treatment to war prisoners. The government of Ghana has been a signatory of the
UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
since Sept. 7th, 2000. The Government of the Republic of Ghana recognises the competence of the
Committee Against Torture to consider complaints brought by or against the Republic in respect
of another State Party which has made a Declaration recognising the competence of the
Committee as well as individuals subject to the jurisdiction of the Republic who claim to be
victims of any violations by the Republic of the provisions of the Convention. The Government
of the Republic of Ghana interprets Article 21 and Article 22 of the Convention as giving the
Committee the competence to receive and consider complaints in respect of matters occurring
after the Convention had entered into force for Ghana.

Therefore the Republic of Ghana

1. calls upon the committee to determine which countries are actually torturing illegally of
not.
2. recommends that there should be a higher level of transparency to show and prove the
application of torture.

II The Republic of Ghana’s role in the prevention of the violation of rights of refugees

The Republic of Ghana recognizes that the violation of rights of refugees is a critical international
and national concern. As a signatory nation of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of
refugees The Republic of Ghana maintains its commitment to the protection of refugees and their
tolerance towards, diversity. The government of Ghana calls upon the international community to
reach the best solution to prevent new flows of refugees. The republic of Ghana would also like to
address the challenge for the international community of internally displaced persons (IDP).

Therefore the Republic of Ghana

1. would like to address the concern of poverty being a major cause of refugee flows.
2. reaffirms the need for the international community to determine what role human rights
violations play as a principal cause; in addition to the role of violent conflicts as a
principal cause of refugee flows.

The Republic of Ghana looks forward to a cooperative and productive committee session of the
United Nations Human Rights Council.