I. BACKGROUND
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), at its 82nd Ordinary Session held virtually from 25 February to 11 March 2025, adopted Resolution ACHPR/Res.624 (LXXXII) 2025, mandating the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA) to develop a model law on the criminalization of torture on the continent.
2. Despite significant progress, including numerous ratifications of the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and other relevant instruments, several African States have yet to transpose these commitments into their domestic law. The lack of adequate national laws undermines the prevention of torture and perpetuates impunity.
3. Faced with this observation, initiatives are emerging in 2024, Gabon proposed a reform of its National Human Rights Commission to establish it as a national preventive mechanism, while Côte d'Ivoire acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
4. In line with this continental dynamic, the CPTA dedicates its 2025 newsletter to the theme: "National legislation to prevent torture: experiences and perspectives". This choice reflects the crucial importance of national legal frameworks in the fight against torture. Can effective legislation really transform practices?
II. OBJECTIVES
6. This call aims to collect contributions highlighting good practices, persistent obstacles and areas for improvement regarding national legislation to prevent torture in Africa.
7. It is aimed at researchers, human rights defenders, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), national preventive mechanisms, NGOs, academia, research centres and international organisations.
III. AREAS OF CONTRIBUTION
8. Contributions may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• The current situation of national legislation against torture in Africa
• Challenges and opportunities in the adoption and enforcement of anti-torture laws
• Role of NPMs: Comparative Experiences
• Impact of legislation on the effective reduction of acts of torture
• Justice and reparation for victims of torture: existing legislative frameworks
• The legislative status quo as a weapon to slow down the adoption of legal measures against torture
• Instrumentalization of the security exception to delay or circumvent the adoption of laws to prevent torture
• Harmonization of national laws with African and international standards
• Good legal practices and prospects for development
• The role of NHRIs and NGOs in promoting legislative reforms
IV. PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING CONTRIBUTIONS
9. Contributions must meet the following criteria:
• Maximum length: 3 pages
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12, single line spacing for text
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, size 10, single-spaced
• Indicate the first name, last name and institutional affiliation under the title of the article
V. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
10. Full proposals must be sent no later than September 10, 2025 to the following addresses: SakrM@africanunion.org; sana.bousbih@gmail.com
VI. INFORMATION NOTE
The Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA), formerly the Robben Island Monitoring Committee, is a special mechanism of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. Its mandate includes:
• The organization of seminars to disseminate the Robben Island Guidelines;
• The development of strategies for their implementation at the national and regional levels;
• The active promotion of these guidelines to Member States;
• The regular report to the African Commission on the status of their implementation.
