Report reviewing existing mechanisms of prevention of torture in South Africa
RCT's partnerorganisation in South Africa the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) has published a report written by Olivia Streater designed to assist civil society and South African institutions in deciding what body or institutions that could fulfill the task of being the national preventive mechanism under OPCAT.
Download Review of Existing Mechanisms for the Prevention and
Investigation of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment
or Punishment in South Africa
In 2006, South Africa signed a radical new treaty: the Optional
Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), which is designed to
prevent torture in places of detention. OPCAT establishes a system
of regular visits to places of detention by an international body -
the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), and by a national
body known as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The latter,
is to be established by the ratifying country (el. South Africa
when it has ratified the treaty) within its own national
context.
South Africa has still not ratified the OPCAT, which means that
the state is not obligated to adhere to the convention . The author
of the report believes that South Africa's ratification of OPCAT
would send a clear message that the country 'continues to aspire to
human rights and democratic principles', and that ratification and
effective implementation of OPCAT could help foster a human rights
culture and prevent torture and ill-treatment.
Written by Liv Østergaard