UN experts fix dates for Italy, Turkey and Benin torture
prevention visits
GENEVA (19 June 2015) – The UN’s torture prevention body
has set dates to visit Italy,Turkey and Benin in the second half of 2015 to
discuss protection against ill-treatment of detainees and the overall situation
of people deprived of their liberty in these countries.
The Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) will
be in Italy from 16 to 22 September, in Turkey from 6 to 9 October and in Benin
from 7 to 11 December. The SPT had already announced that it would be visiting
the Netherlands from 28 to 31 July and Brazil from 19 to 30 October.
So far this year, members have visited
Azerbaijan, Nauru, Guatemala and the Philippines.
The SPT’s role is to prevent and eliminate torture and
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment of detainees. It works
with national governments that have ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN
Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
During
a country mission, the SPT delegation visits places of deprivation of liberty,
including prisons, police stations, migrant detention centres and psychiatric
hospitals and also engages with National Preventive Mechanisms to assist them
with their mandate. It also liaises closely with national independent
monitoring bodies known as National Preventive Mechanisms.
ENDS
Background: The Optional Protocol on the Prevention of
Torture has to date been ratified by 78 countries. At the end of a country
visit, the SPT communicates its recommendations and observations to the State
by means of a confidential report, and if necessary to NPMs. However, State
parties are encouraged to request that the SPT makes these reports public. The
SPT also reserves the right to amend its plan of work should the circumstances
so require, and will inform the State party or national preventive mechanism as
soon as is practical.
Find out more about the Subcommittee and the Optional
For media inquiries, please contact Liz Throssell, UN
Human Rights Media Unit - +41 (0) 22 917 9466/ ethrossell@ohchr.org
For additional information, please contact Joao Nataf,
SPT Secretary, Human Rights Treaty Division - +41 (0) 22 917 9102/
jnataf@ohchr.org
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