Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions The Nairobi Declaration, adopted during the Ninth International Conference of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in October 2008, addresses the role of NHRIs in the administration of justice and encourages their involvement in torture prevention. Indeed, several provisions of the Nairobi Declaration are directly relevant for torture prevention, such as providing training for law enforcement and correctional staff; conducting unannounced visits to police stations and places of detention; reviewing standards and procedures; and promoting ratification of the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. The annual review of the implementation of Nairobi Declaration during ICC meetings provides an additional motivation for NHRIs to be more actively involved in the prevention of torture. Background The publication of this Manual is a direct follow-up to two significant activities. The first was the joint APTOHCHR Actors for Change project (2005–2007), which aimed to strengthen the capacity of NHRIs in the field of conflict prevention and torture prevention. APT was the partner of OHCHR in all phases of the project relating to torture prevention. The training course on torture prevention had three components: an eight-week distance learning course, with learning materials provided on CD-Rom; regional workshops that brought participants together for face-to-face discussion and practical training; and “Plans of Action on Torture Prevention” drafted by participants for their respective NHRIs. Courses were held in all four regions of the world, involving some 90 participants from 52 NHRIs.3 The second activity was consideration of a reference on torture by the APF Advisory Council of Jurists in 2005, with expert support provided by APT. Since that time APF and APT have worked in partnership to design and deliver national training programmes for NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region. The core focus of the training is to build understanding of the United Nations Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol and to provide technical advice and training to APF member institutions and other key stakeholders on implementation of the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. A particular focus of the training is to discuss the potential role of NHRIs as NPMs.4 Image: National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Both training programmes have been evaluated as an “unqualified success”5 and APT, APF and OHCHR jointly decided that the content of the two courses should be compiled, modified and made available to NHRIs in a hard-copy manual and a companion CD-Rom. 3 15 NHRIs from Asia-Pacific (Afghanistan, Australia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palestine, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand), 14 NHRIs from Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), 13 NHRIs from French-speaking countries (Burkina Faso, Canada (Québec), Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo) and 10 NHRIs from Latin America (Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru). 4 APF-APT joint projects have included representatives from the NHRIs of Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. 5 Evaluation of the Strengthening of National Human Rights Institutions (OHCHR) project, Executive Summary (March 2008). vi | Introduction for users