Nature
Torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him (or from a third person) information or confession, punishing him for an act he has committed, intimidating him or other persons, or as a source of pleasure to the torturer. The methods of torture include: electric shocks; beatings, especially in sensitive areas of the body; hanging prisoners upside down; threats against the families of prisoners; deprivation of food and sleep for days; singeing with cigarettes; administration of psychoactive, curare-like, sulphur and other drugs, [etc]. Instances of death under torture are known. For many victims surviving the torture has not necessarily meant a blessing. Physically maimed or psychologically shattered, these people are unable to lead a normal life. Deafness, loss of speech and brain damage are among the injuries that have been sustained.