South Africa: Implementing the Optional Protocol

APT will participate in the second meeting of the South African Human Rights Commission's Section 5 Torture Committee, and conduct joint advocacy with government representatives.

This process brings together all existing independent national bodies with access to places of detention to ensure the full involvement of all stakeholders in the determination of the NPM model most suited to the South African context.

• Identification of gaps in current visiting structures, and of the best model of NPM in South Africa.
• Joint advocacy with the SAHRC and others for ratification of OPCAT and full implementation of obligations under CAT, in particular the criminalisation of torture.
• Facilitation of dialogue between national actors in South Africa and their counterparts elsewhere.
• Capacity strengthening, in particular as regards the distinction between preventive and responsive visits.
• Discussion of the forthcoming consideration of South Africa under the UPR procedure.
• Identification of national initiatives for torture prevention in which the APT could add value.