Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions Independent inspection mechanisms Regular and unannounced visits to all places of detention by independent monitoring bodies helps prevent a culture of secrecy from developing and provides an important safeguard for persons deprived of their liberty. Watch Go to the Preventing Torture CD-Rom to watch more on how NHRIs can promote reforms to laws and policies to prevent torture and ill-treatment. Click on ‘Feature materials’ and then select ‘Item 3 – NHRIs: Reforming laws and policies’. Key points: Chapter 3 • NHRIs can promote ratification of relevant international human rights treaties, such as the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. • NHRIs can promote legal reform, in particular making torture a crime under domestic law. • NHRIs can promote reform of detention procedures. Further reading Criminalisation of Torture: State Obligations under the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Sir Nigel Rodley and Matt Pollard; E.H.R.L.R. Issue 2, Sweet and Maxwell; 2006 In the CD-Rom Committee against Torture, general comment No. 2, Implementation of article 2 by States Parties Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 20: replaces general comment 7 concerning prohibition of torture and cruel treatment or punishment (art. 7) Advisory Council of Jurists Reference on Torture (includes Minimum Interrogation Standards); Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions; 2005 Bringing the International Prohibition of Torture Home: National Implementation Guide for the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; The Redress Trust; 2006 Torture in International Law: A Guide to Jurisprudence; Association for the Prevention of Torture and the Center for Justice and International Law; 2008 The Right of Access to Lawyers for Persons Deprived of Liberty; Legal Briefing Series, Association for the Prevention of Torture; March 2010 34 | Chapter 3: Promoting legal and procedural reforms