The questions the US delegation faced ranged from allegations concerning CIA rendition (sending prisoners to secret facilities), the failure to prosecute US officials who ordered torture, the conditions at Guantanamo Bay, the practices of domestic prisons in the US and police militarization and brutality.
As noted by Newsweek, this review was noteworthy in how it focused on CAT compliance in regards to various domestic issues. Regarding the situation in US prisons Newsweek writes:
The review also delved into domestic issues.The UN inquiry was also noteworthy in focusing upon the treatment of black citizens in the US, especially in light of recent events in Ferguson and Chicago.
The committee brought up the U.S. prison system and inquired as to how current practices can be justified in light of the country’s CAT obligations. Among the concerns were the use of solitary confinement, the treatment of minors and those with mental health disorders in particular, the lack of accountability for prison officials who have been accused of sexual abuse, and the sentencing of those who have committed nonviolent offenses to life without parole.
During this testimony a youth delegation from Chicago staged a silent protest, standing with arms aloft for thirty minutes.
Many of the representatives from Ferguson in attendance to give testimony lifted their hands in solidarity with the Chicago protest.
