The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights wishes to inform the general public that the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (‘the CPTA’ or ‘the Committee’) held a two day Meeting in Kampala, the Republic of Uganda, from 17 to 18 December 2014.
Members who attended the Meeting were: Commissioner Lawrence M. Mute, Chairperson of the Committee; Mr. Jean-Baptiste Niyizurugero; Vice Chairperson; Mr. Malick Sow, Member; and Ms. Hannah Forster, also Member
During the first day of the Meeting, Members of the CPTA undertook business of the Committee, including the review of the CPTA Operational Work Plan 2014/15 and consideration of a Draft Technical Paper on the development of a general comment(s) on Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter).
The second day of the Meeting brought together various stakeholders in the area of prevention and prohibition of torture in the Republic of Uganda, through a ‘Roundtable Discussion on the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture: Good practices/challenges in Uganda.’ The CPTA organised this Roundtable Discussion in collaboration with the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
Twenty-eight (28) participants from various Institutions, including Government bodies, international organisations as well as civil society organisations participated in the Discussions. A panel consisting of representatives from the Uganda Police Force, the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and the UHRC led the discussions by identifying and sharing good practices and challenges in torture prevention and prohibition in their respective Institutions. A second panel, consisting of Members of the CPTA, shared good practices at the regional and international levels.
Participants were further familiarised with the work of the CPTA and how the stakeholders can work with the Committee in the area of the prohibition and prevention of torture and ill-treatment.
The Committee will in due course issue a bulletin on the good practices gleaned from the Roundtable.
The Committee expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Uganda for the courtesies extended to Members of the CPTA, to the UHRC for assisting with the organisation of the Roundtable Discussion and all other partners who contributed to the successful undertaking of this Meeting.
Banjul, The Gambia, 18 December 2014
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