The United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture makes its first visit to the DRC

AA/Tunis

The United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), an organ reporting to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is carrying out its first visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 1 until December 7, 2024 to support the implementation by the State of its torture prevention body, indicates the OHCHR in a press release published Wednesday on its website.

“We congratulate the DRC for the establishment of its national prevention mechanism (NPM), an independent body for the prevention of torture, after years of preparation,” declared Hamet Diakhate, the head of the delegation quoted in the press release. .

“Our visit comes at a crucial time when the mechanism is taking shape, and we want to ensure that it complies with the DRC’s international commitments. We stand ready to support national authorities by providing advice during this important legislative process. “, he added.

The DRC ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in 2010, the press release recalls.

During its visit, the SPT delegation will meet with representatives of the legislature, judges and prosecutors, as well as various United Nations and civil society entities, and will also visit places of deprivation of liberty. After the visit, the SPT will share its report with the Government. The report will remain confidential until the DRC decides to make it public, indicates the same source.

The SPT has a mandate to carry out unannounced visits to prisons, detention centers, police stations, psychiatric hospitals and any other place where people are deprived of their liberty in all OPCAT States Parties. Since the start of its mandate in 2007, the SPT has visited more than 80 countries, underlines the OHCHR.

The SPT delegation is made up of Hamet Saloum Diakhate, head of delegation (Senegal), Hamida Dridi (Tunisia), Jakub Czepek (Poland) and Julia Kozma (Austria).

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