Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions Foreword This Guide is the outcome of cooperation between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF). It builds on the results of and the experience accumulated during previous joint training endeavours: namely, the APT-OHCHR Actors for Change Project (2005– 2007) and the APT-APF training programmes for national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the Asia Pacific region. Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the prohibition of torture has been universally understood to mean that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (article 5). The prohibition of torture is also complemented by the obligation to prevent torture, and both are internationally recognized in the United Nations Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. The latter, moreover, assists States parties to meet this obligation by setting up a system of regular visits to places of detention by independent international and national bodies. Indeed, the Optional Protocol provides NHRIs with a potentially powerful monitoring and implementation role. The Secretary-General has also encouraged States parties to strengthen the mandate and capacity of NHRIs to enable them to fulfil this role effectively. As cornerstones of national systems for the promotion and protection of human rights, empowered, credible and properly established NHRIs are well placed to actively engage and cooperate with national actors in the prevention of torture. This Guide has been designed as a practical tool to support them in their concrete activities to prevent torture. It presents a whole range of useful information, such as good practices. This Guide is part of an integrated CD-Rom package, which also includes associated audio-visual resources. I hope that this publication will foster a greater understanding of how to prevent such horrendous violations of human rights and human dignity, and increase the capacity and role of NHRIs in doing so. Navanethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights iii