In line with its usual practice, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (the CPTA), a Special Mechanism of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), has identified its annual theme for 2020 as “the prohibition of the use, production and trade of equipment or substances designed to inflict torture or ill-treatment.”
In this regard, the CPTA recalls that the Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa (the Robben Island Guidelines) urges States to prohibit and prevent the use, production and trade of equipment or substances designed to inflict torture or ill-treatment and the abuse of any other equipment or substance to these ends.
Furthermore, the Guidelines on the Conditions of Arrest, Police Custody and Pre-trial Detention in Africa (the Luanda Guidelines), provide that any use of force must be proportionate and always at the most minimal level necessary.
The CPTA also notes that on 28 June 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution entitled “Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards”, focusing on the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The Commission wishes to inform the general public that CPTA’s 9th Edition Africa Torture Watch Newsletter highlights this theme and that the CPTA will also publish a thematic report on the topic in 2020.
