This report is based on a memorandum sent to the Chinese Government in early November 1992, expressing AI’s concern at evidence of a growing incidence of torture in Chinese jails. It describes the methods of torture used and the circumstances in which torture occurs and identifies factors facilitating torture, such as lack of safeguards of prisoners’ rights, the importance of confessional evidence and the failure to investigate and prosecute complaints of torture. Individual cases from the following regions are described: Liaoning, Shaanxi, Hunan, Tibet, Shanghai Municipality, Fujian and Beijing Municipality. Also included are related concerns such as deaths in detention, medical treatment, solitary confinement and conditions of detention.
