Association for the Prevention of Torture

The Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) is an international non-governmental organisation which works towards a world in which no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Its primary objective is to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment by promoting transparency and accountability of institutions; implementation of international, regional and national norms and standards; and changing practices and behaviour.

The organisation is a key partner in the work of the APF, providing expert advice and training support on the role of NHRIs to prevent torture and ill-treatment in places of detention.

To assist our members carry out this vital work, the APF delivers a training program on torture prevention in partnership with the APT.

The training draws heavily on Preventing Torture: An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions, a comprehensive toolkit developed jointly by the APF, the APT and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The APF also works in partnership with the APT to facilitate discussions with our member institutions and governments in the region on implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture in different national settings.

In 2005, the APF’s Advisory Council of Jurists undertook a major study on the role of NHRIs in the prevention of torture, which included developing a proposed set of Minimum Interrogation Standards. The APT provided expert advice to the jurists when they considered the issue.

The APT's website is: http://www.apt.ch/