UN Torture Expert to Report on Bradley Manning Detention

A UN expert says he’s had “productive conversations” with American officials about the detention of Bradley Manning, but would not say if the conditions of that detention violated international standards.

UN Special rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez says he will be releasing a report on Manning’s detention in the coming weeks.

“On the one hand he is no longer in solitary confinement, although he spent something like eight months in solitary confinement. But when he was moved to Fort Leavenworth his regime changed.” Mendez told reporters today. “On a daily basis he does communicate and socialize with other inmates in his same category which is a big improvement over the first 8 months.”

Mendez says he is following developments in the case closely, despite being refused a confidential meeting with the alleged Wikileaks source. He said the US Defense Department agreed to let him visit Manning but would not guarantee the conversation would be private.

“Under the rules of the Special Rapporteur and the rules of all the special procedures, that is a condition that we cannot accept.” he said. “I nevertheless told Mr. Manning through his council that if he still wanted to see me I would make an exception, but he also chose not to waive his right to have a private conversation with me.” 

Mendez was at the UN to present a report calling on states to end the use of solitary confinement as a punitive measure or prison management technique. He says solitary confinement is permissible in some instances, such as for protective reasons or other short term specific purposes, but is otherwise a inhuman punishment. He also said instances of pre-trial solitary confinement were especially of concern.

“Its used mostly as a way to extort confessions or information leading to the prosecution of others. If this is used to coerce the will of a person in detention it can amount, depending on the severity, to either cruel and degrading treatment or to torture itself.”