| Date: | 21 - 22 July 2010 |
| Place: | Togo |
| Purpose: | In June 2009, a seminar was organised jointly by the APT and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Togo (OHCHR-Togo) to discuss the perspectives for OPCAT ratification and implementation in the country. A Follow-up Committee was established to take the opportunity of the momentum in Togo to ratify and implement the OPCAT. It comprises representatives from the legislative, executive and judicial powers, the National Human Rights Commission and the civil society organisations. A road map was adopted by the participants to the seminar to guide the Follow-up Committee in its work. Thanks to the Follow-up Committee’s work, which was supported by the OHCHR-Togo and the APT, the law on OPCAT ratification was adopted by the Parliament of Togo on 10 June 2010. The ratification itself took place on 20 July 2010. Togo is now entering a crucial phase in the implementation of its obligations under the OPCAT, namely establishing one or several effective National Preventive Mechanisms as required by the OPCAT. It is in this context that the APT and the OHCHR-Togo endeavour to continue their successful partnership to assist Togo in the implementation of the OPCAT. |
| Partners: | OHCHR - Togo OPCAT Follow-up Committee |
| Activities: | A two-day seminar is co-organised by the APT, the OHCHR-Togo and the Follow-up Committee on 21 and 22 July 2010. This seminar will gather approximately 40 participants, who are already familiar with the OPCAT and may play a role in the implementation of the international treaty. The Follow-up Committee will present the results of their actions and work, as well as eventual NPM options for Togo. Through group discussions, the participants will analyse the Togolese context and identify the most appropriate option for a National Preventive Mechanism, in the light of the OPCAT requirements. On the second day, a working meeting gathering the Follow-up Committee Members, the APT, the OHCHR-Togo and a few resource persons will analyse the discussions from the previous day, regarding the most appropriate NPM option, and develop a road map to facilitate and guide decision makers in the establishment of an effective NPM. |
| Expected Outcome: |
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| Unique Aspects: | The seminar is co-organised by the APT, OHCHR-Togo and the Follow-up Committee established last year. This can be seen as a good example of positive partnership and interaction between various actors. The seminar will offer the opportunity to assess the results of the Follow-up Committee and discuss the ways forward. Finally, the July 2010 seminar is organized at a timely moment, one day after ratification of the OPCAT, the culmination of the momentum gained during the last twelve months in Togo: National OPCAT seminar and establishment of the Follow-up Committee in June 2009; Dakar conference in April 2010 and various initiatives of the Committee, which led to adoption of the ratification law in June 2010. The priority now shifts to the implementation phase and the selection of the most appropriate NPM option, building on discussions already held amongst national actors. |
| Contact Persons: | Jean-Baptiste Niyizurugero, Africa Programme Officer Audrey Olivier, OPCAT Coordinator |