NHRIs join global discussion on prevention of torture

Representatives of national human rights institutions from all parts of the world – including the Maldives, Philippines and Timor Leste from the Asia Pacific region – were among 300 invited delegates to the first-ever global forum on the prevention of torture.

Organised by the Geneva-based Association for the Prevention of Torture, the event was an opportunity to assess progress and challenges five years after the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) came into force.

The UN Special Rapporteur, Juan Mendez, delivered the keynote address, and former and current members of the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture also attended the conference.

One of the key discussions during the two-day conference concerned the use of security concerns to justify torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including in many democratic countries.

The Global Forum included a number of sessions where participants shared national and regional experiences, examples of good practice and strategies to strengthen torture prevention mechanisms.

“Some of the discussions highlighted the concrete role that NHRIs can play to achieve positive results, such as monitoring places of detention, advocating changes to laws and policy and raising public awareness,” said Suraina Pasha, who represented the Asia Pacific Forum.

A total of 61 countries have now ratified the OPCAT, which establishes a system of unannounced and unrestricted visits to places of detention by independent national and international monitoring bodies. A further 22 countries are signatories, with 12 more expressing interest.

At the conclusion of the Global Forum, delegates identified three strategic goals to bolster the treaty’s reach and effectiveness, including:

• to continue the campaign to increase ratification, as well as ensuring that States Parties maintain the political will required to implement the OPCAT
• to improve the effectiveness of national and international oversight mechanisms required by the OPCAT
• to involve new actors in the fight against torture, such as the media, public opinion, trade unions, doctors and donor groups.

A comprehensive selection of background papers is available on the Global Forum website.

In addition, all conference sessions have been recorded and can be viewed on the webcast channel.

Preventing Torture, Upholding Dignity: from Pledges to Actions, the Global Forum on the OPCAT, was held in Geneva from 10-11 November 2011.

The Association for the Prevention of Torture is a key partner of the APF, helping to jointly deliver our blended learning training program on torture prevention for the staff of national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region.