We advocate for effective safeguards against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. These include independent preventive monitoring mechanisms and rehabilitation for victims of torture and their families.
- We work with governments to criminalise torture as a specific offence in criminal legislation, and to establish effective independent public oversight or monitoring mechanisms to prevent torture and ill-treatment from occurring in places of detention. We encourage states to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), to establish a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in line with the requirements of the Protocol, and to cooperate with the UN Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture.
- We develop tools to support states to establish independent and effective monitoring mechanisms, and to strengthen the capacity of such mechanisms to fulfil this role effectively.
- We support a holistic approach to the rehabilitation of victims of torture and help local organisations develop their capacity to provide victims and their families with redress and rehabilitation.
- We provide training for civil society organisations, members of monitoring bodies, police officers, prison staff and relevant ministries on standards of human rights and criminal justice and international good practice.
- We engage with UN human rights bodies and mechanisms, such as the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) and the UN Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT). We also engage with the UN Human Rights Council and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).