NHRIs develop action plans to tackle torture

Representatives from the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of South Asia have developed detailed action plans to prevent torture in prisons, police lock-ups and other places of detention, as part of a major training program presented by the APF and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT).

Some of the common activities proposed by the NHRIs included:

• developing internal guidelines, resources and training to build staff capacity around preventive monitoring of places of detention
• providing training and building greater cooperation with police, prison authorities and other stakeholders
• launching a public awareness campaign to generate discussion about the prevention of torture
• advocating for reforms to law and policy, including ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).

Other proposals were specific to the needs of the particular NHRI, such as securing funding to appoint a medical doctor to join monitoring teams.

A total of 26 participants from the NHRIs of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka took part in the ‘blended learning’ program, which included a five-week online course (July-August 2011) followed by a week-long workshop from 19-23 September 2011, hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal.

Participants have been encouraged to present their action plans for adoption by their national institution and to build the recommendations into their ongoing work.

The primary aim of the training program is to provide participants with information and skills to bolster their institution’s work to prevent torture.

It draws on the information and resources included in Preventing Torture: An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions, a multi-media resource developed by the APF, APT and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

As part of the face-to-face workshop held in Kathmandu, participants had the opportunity to apply their learning to real-life situations through visits to two prisons and a juvenile detention facility.

This experience, they said, would help them to “improve the way we visit detention centres.”

Following last year’s torture prevention training program involving the NHRIs of South-East Asia, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia will host a roundtable dialogue for parliamentarians and government officials in November on ratifying the UN Convention against Torture. Technical assistance and support will be provided by the APF’s expert consultant, Dr Silvia Casale.

OPCAT national event in Nepal

On 26 September 2011, the National Human Rights Commission hosted a national seminar on ratifying the OPCAT for members of parliament, government and civil society.

A number of issues were discussed at the event, including:

• legal reform on torture and the need for consultation on the draft bill. It was encouraging to hear that NHRC will hold consultations in Kathmandu and in the regions on the bill once it is public.
• establishment of an National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), including different potential models and the possibility of incorporating NPM designation into the future anti-torture law.

The OPCAT national event was supported by the APT and the APF.

Date: 19 October 2011