Geneva, The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has finalized plans to conduct inspection missions in eight countries throughout 2024, aiming to assess and enhance measures against torture and ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty. The countries scheduled for visits include Albania, Gabon, Honduras, and Mongolia in the first half of the year, followed by Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Greece, and Nigeria in the latter half.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, these missions are part of the SPT’s proactive mandate under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The Subcommittee’s work involves visiting prisons, police stations, detention centers, and psychiatric hospitals to examine conditions and engage in dialogues with the authorities responsible for preventing torture. Additionally, where applicable, the SPT supports the work of the country’s National Prevention Mechanism (NPM), a key element in the international framework for the prevention of torture.
The SPT also recognized significant advancements in the fight against torture with the designation of NPMs in Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting these as positive developments in improving detention conditions and preventing torture and ill-treatment. Slovakia’s designation followed its 2023 ratification of OPCAT, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s designation came after the SPT’s 2022 visit, resulting in its removal from the non-compliance list.
The current non-compliance list includes countries that are overdue in establishing their NPM, underscoring the importance of national efforts in the global fight against torture. SPT Chairperson Suzanne Jabbour urged these states to fulfill their obligations and offered the Subcommittee’s support in establishing NPMs.
Furthermore, the SPT discussed a revised draft of its General Comment on the definition of places of deprivation of liberty, incorporating public consultation feedback. This document aims to guide States Parties, NPMs, and other monitoring bodies in ensuring comprehensive access to detention facilities, expected to be adopted within the year.
The SPT also continued its practice of sending visit reports to countries like Madagascar, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, applauding Argentina and Australia for agreeing to make their SPT visit reports public. This transparency is seen as a preventive measure, reflecting a commitment to accountability in human rights practices.
This series of planned visits and the ongoing dialogue with national and international bodies underscore the SPT’s dedicated effort to eradicate torture and improve detention conditions worldwide.