2
1. These principles shall be applied to all persons within the territory of any given State, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion or religious belief, political or
other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Measures applied under the law and designed solely to protect the rights and special status of
women, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers, children and juveniles, aged, sick or
handicapped persons shall not be deemed to be discriminatory. The need for, and the application
of, such measures shall always be subject to review by a judicial or other authority.
Principle 6
No person under any form of detention or imprisonment shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 1 No circumstance whatever may be invoked as
a justification for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Principle 7
1. States should prohibit by law any act contrary to the rights and duties contained in these
principles, make any such act subject to appropriate sanctions and conduct impartial
investigations upon complaints.
2. Officials who have reason to believe that a violation of this Body of Principles has occurred or
is about to occur shall report the matter to their superior authorities and, where necessary, to
other appropriate authorities or organs vested with reviewing or remedial powers.
3. Any other person who has ground to believe that a violation of this Body of Principles has
occurred or is about to occur shall have the right to report the matter to the superiors of the
officials involved as well as to other appropriate authorities or organs vested with reviewing or
remedial powers.
Principle 8
Persons in detention shall be subject to treatment appropriate to their unconvicted status.
Accordingly, they shall, whenever possible, be kept separate from imprisoned persons.
Principle 9
The authorities which arrest a person, keep him under detention or investigate the case shall
exercise only the powers granted to them under the law and the exercise of these powers shall
be subject to recourse to a judicial or other authority.
Principle 10
Anyone who is arrested shall be informed at the time of his arrest of the reason for his arrest
and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.
Principle 11
1. A person shall not be kept in detention without being given an effective opportunity to be
heard promptly by a judicial or other authority. A detained person shall have the right to defend
himself or to be assisted by counsel as prescribed by law.
2. A detained person and his counsel, if any, shall receive prompt and full communication of any
order of detention, together with the reasons therefor.
3. A judicial or other authority shall be empowered to review as appropriate the continuance of
detention.
Principle 12