Prisoner abuse

It is uncommon for human rights violations to be caught on camera

In a HARDtalk interview on 10th May, Roger Bolton speaks to the Vice Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee, Sir Nigel Rodley, about torture in Iraq.

The war in Iraq continues to throw up questions about human rights.

People across the world have been shocked by images of American and British troops apparently humiliating Iraqi prisoners.

Sir Nigel Rodley said it was uncommon for such human rights violations to be caught on camera in this way.

He said that such activities "by and large take place behind closed doors".

The object of taking these pictures, he suggested, was to make captives feel "less than human, not just the enemy".

Sir Nigel said that to prevent such human rights abuses in Iraq there needs to be more "top level interest".

He said that Paul Bremer, the US Administrator in Iraq, should visit prisons like Abu Ghreib, that access should be given to the outside world, and that those guilty of abuse should be prosecuted.

Oil for food scandal

While the UN prepares to play a greater role in Iraq, it is also facing allegations of corruption.

It is alleged that members of the UN abused the Oil-for-food programme set up in 1996 that was meant to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqis.

Sir Nigel said that a "blue ribbon panel" had been set up to investigate the allegations and that he wished similar diligence was shown investigating human rights abuses.

HARDtalk can be seen on BBC World at 03:30 GMT, 08:30 GMT, 11:30 GMT, 15:30 GMT, 18:30 GMT and 23:30 GMT

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30