Uganda: Developing and Implementing National Preventive Measures and Mechanisms
Thursday, June 12, 2008
As part of its five year torture prevention programme in Uganda, the APT co-organised a national OPCAT seminar on the 17 and 18 June. The event assessed the process of OPCAT ratification by Uganda and discussed the implementation of the OPCAT if Uganda ratifies, including the establishment & designation of a National Preventive Mechanism. A resolution to establish a Working Group on Torture was adopted, to which APT will serve as an advisor.
Date: | 17-20 June 2008 |
Place: | Uganda |
Partners: | African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) |
Purpose: | The prevention of torture in Uganda by the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and the subsequent implementation. |
Activities: | In 2006, the APT began a five-year torture prevention programme in Uganda in partnership with two key local human rights actors, the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) and the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). The initial event of this programme was the organisation of a training workshop on monitoring places of detention for civil society organizations and the UHRC in November 2006. From 17 to 18 June, the APT organised a national OPCAT seminar jointly with the UHRC and in collaboration with the ACTV. The seminar objectives were to:
After the seminar, on the 19 and 20 June 2008, the APT and its partners took the opportunity of being in the country to advocate for OPCAT ratification and implementation. Therefore, a joint APT/UHRC/ACTV delegation met with government officials and other relevant stakeholders including the Speaker of Parliament, the Secretary of the Uganda Law Reform Commission, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Deputy Attorney General as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
Outcome: |
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Documents: | Download the full Seminar Report |
Contact Person: | Jean-Baptiste Niyizurugero, APT Africa Programme Officer |
Left to right: Jean Baptiste Niyizurugero, APT Africa Programme Officer; Honorable Edward K. Ssekandi, Speaker of Parliament and Ms. Roselyn Karugonjo Segawa, UHRC Director Monitoring and Inspections. |