VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSW #0322 2150610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030610Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5978

UNCLAS BERN 000322 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL/MLGA KRISTEN MCGEENY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM UN SZ
SUBJECT: SWISS INITIATIVES TO COUNTER TORTURE 
 
REF: STATE 70129 
 
¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel request July 27 to Ralf 
Heckner, Head of the Human Rights Policy Section in the Swiss 
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).  Heckner was 
encouraged by the recent USG response to the issue of 
torture, noting that the decision to close the detention 
center at Guantanamo Bay was "great news" and would allow the 
U.S. to "regain the moral high ground."  Heckner also noted 
that the Swiss were pleased the USG had decided to join the 
UN Human Rights Council. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In response to reftel, Heckner described the 
following initiatives undertaken by the Swiss to counter 
torture: 
 
-- On the multilateral front, the Swiss support the UN 
Special Procedures to investigate and monitor human rights 
problems.  Switzerland provides the funding for one of the 
assistants to the Special Rapporteur on Torture, and seconds 
a FDFA officer to that position on a rotating basis. 
Switzerland was instrumental in founding the Optional 
Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, 
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in 2002, 
even before Switzerland was a UN member; 
 
-- The GoS routinely engages in bilateral diplomacy to 
counter torture in other countries.  For example, Heckner 
said that Switzerland consistently calls on Iran to end its 
use of corporal punishment; 
 
-- Also bilaterally, the FDFA encourages its ambassadors to 
follow up with host countries that have been assessed by the 
Special Rapporteur on Torture six months after the 
Rapporteur's visit.  Heckner said that this reinforces to the 
host country the importance of the Special Rapporteur's 
findings and recommendations; 
 
-- The GoS has sent experts to China, Vietnam, and Russia to 
train prison directors and police officers on how to manage 
detainees humanely.  In Russia, Switzerland has also worked 
with the directors of juvenile detention facilities toward 
this end; 
 
-- The GoS provides approximately USD 235,000 (CHF 250,000) 
annually to each of the following Geneva-based NGOs that are 
working to counter torture: 
 
     a.  Association pour la prevention de la torture (APT) 
 
     b.  Organisation mondial contre la torture (OMCT) 
CARTER