Global Status | Association for the Prevention of Torture

Global Status of ratifications, signatures and NPM designations Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture

90 States Parties, of which 71 have designated their NPM

12 States Signatories

Américas

País	Date of ratification	NPM Options	NPM Type
Argentina	Noviembre 15, 2004	National System to Prevent Torture, comprising: National Committee for the Prevention of Torture (composed of 13 members, including the Ombudsperson for Federal Prisons (Procurador Penitenciario de la Nación); a Federal Council of Local Preventive Mechanisms; Local preventive mechanisms (to be designated) in each of the 24 provinces; and public institutions and NGOs interested in the compliance of the OPCAT’s goals.	National Preventive System in Federal State
Bolivia	Mayo 23, 2006	Service for the Prevention of Torture	New Specialised Institution
Brazil	Enero 12, 2007	National System to Prevent and Combat Torture	National Preventive System in Federal State
Chile	Diciembre 12, 2008	National Human Rights Institute (Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos)	National Human Rights Commission
Costa Rica	Diciembre 1, 2005	Decentralised unit within Ombudsperson's Office (Defensoría de los Habitantes)	Ombuds Institution
Ecuador	Julio 20, 2010	Ombudsperson's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo)	Ombuds Institution
Guatemala	Junio 9, 2008	National Office to Prevent Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment	New Specialised Institution
Honduras	Mayo 23, 2006	National Committee for the Prevention Against Torture (CONAPREV)	New Specialised Institution
Mexico	Abril 11, 2005	National Human Rights Commission	Ombuds Institution
Nicaragua	Febrero 25, 2009	Ombudsperson's Office (Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos)	Ombuds Institution
Panama	Junio 2, 2011	Ombuds Institution	Ombuds Institution
Paraguay	Diciembre 2, 2005	National Preventive Mechanism against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	New Specialised Institution
Peru	Septiembre 14, 2006	Ombudsperson's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo)	Ombuds Institution
Uruguay	Diciembre 8, 2005	National Human Rights Institution and Ombuds Institution (Institución Nacional de Derechos Humanos y Defensoría del Pueblo)	National Human Rights Commission

Asia-Pacífico

País	Date of ratification	NPM Options	NPM Type
Australia	Diciembre 21, 2017	Commonwealth Ombudsman, with state and territory NPMs still to be designated.	Multiple Institutions
Cambodia	Marzo 30, 2007	Inter-governmental committee	Other: Inter-governmental Body
Maldives	Febrero 15, 2006	National Human Rights Commission	National Human Rights Commission
Mongolia	Febrero 12, 2015	National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia	National Human Rights Commission
New Zealand	Marzo 14, 2007	5 different bodies coordinated by the Human Rights Commission (central NPM), and including the Office of the Ombudsman, the Independent Police Conduct Authority, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the Inspector of Service Penal Establishments of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces.	Multiple Institutions
Sri Lanka	Diciembre 5, 2017	Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka	National Human Rights Commission

Europa

País	Date of ratification	NPM Options	NPM Type
Albania	Octubre 1, 2003	People's Advocate (Avokati i Popullit)	Ombuds Institution
Armenia	Septiembre 14, 2006	Human Rights Defender	Ombuds Institution
Austria	Diciembre 4, 2012	Austrian Ombudsman Board (Volksanwaltschaft)	Ombuds Institution
Azerbaijan	Enero 28, 2009	Commissioner for Human Rights	Ombuds Institution
Bulgaria	Junio 1, 2011	Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria	Ombuds Institution
Croatia	Abril 25, 2005	Ombudswoman, in cooperation with representatives of the academic community and human rights NGOs	Ombuds Institution
Cyprus	Abril 29, 2009	Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights	Ombuds Institution
Czech Republic	Julio 10, 2006	Public Defender of Rights	Ombuds Institution
Denmark	Junio 25, 2004	Danish Parliamentary Ombudsman, in collaboration with DIGNITY (NGO) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (National Human Rights Institution)	Ombuds Plus Institution
Estonia	Diciembre 18, 2006	Chancellor of Justice	Ombuds Institution
Finland	Octubre 8, 2014	Parliamentary Ombudsperson's Office	Ombuds Institution
France	Noviembre 11, 2008	General Controller of Places of Deprivation of Liberty (Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté)	New Specialised Institution
Georgia	Agosto 9, 2005	Public Defender	Ombuds Institution
Germany	Diciembre 4, 2008	National Agency for the Prevention of Torture, comprising: - Federal Agency for the Prevention of Torture (Bundesstelle zur Verhütung von Folter); and - Joint Commission of the Länder (Länderkommission zur Verhütung von Folter)	New Specialised Institution
Greece	Febrero 11, 2014	Ombudsperson's Office	Ombuds Institution
Hungary	Enero 12, 2012	Commissioner for Fundamental Rights	Ombuds Institution
Iceland	Febrero 20, 2019	Parliamentary Ombudsman	Ombuds Institution
Italy	Abril 3, 2013	National Authority (Garante nazionale) for the rights of persons deprived of liberty	New Specialised Institution
Kazakhstan	Octubre 22, 2008	Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with public monitoring commissions and civil society	Ombuds Plus Institution
Kyrgyzstan	Diciembre 29, 2008	National Center for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	New Specialised Institution
Latvia	Diciembre 10, 2021	National Preventive Mechanism	Ombudsman
Liechtenstein	Noviembre 3, 2006	Corrections Commission (Vollzugskommission)	New Specialised Institution
Lithuania	Enero 20, 2014	Parliamentary Ombudsperson's Office (Seimas Ombudsmen's Office)	Ombuds Institution
Luxembourg	Mayo 19, 2010	Ombudsperson's Office (Médiateure du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg)	Ombuds Institution
Malta	Septiembre 24, 2003	Two Boards: - Board of Visitors for Detained Persons - Board of Visitors of the Prisons	Multiple Institutions
Moldova	Julio 24, 2006	Council for the Prevention of Torture, composed of 7 members, including the Ombudsperson (Moldovan Centre for Human Rights), the Ombudsperson for children and 5 members proposed by the civil society.	Ombuds Plus Institution
Montenegro	Marzo 6, 2009	Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms	Ombuds Institution
Netherlands	Septiembre 28, 2010	4 bodies are designated as the NPM: the Inspectorate of Security and Justice (IVenJ), which also acts as coordinating body; the Health Care Inspectorate (IGZ); the Inspectorate for Youth Care (IJZ); and the Council for the Administration of Criminal Justice and Protection of Juveniles (RSJ).	Multiple Institutions
North Macedonia	Febrero 13, 2009	Ombudsperson's Office	Ombuds Institution
Norway	Junio 27, 2013	Parliamentary Ombudsman	Ombuds Institution
Poland	Septiembre 14, 2005	Commissioner for Human Rights	Ombuds Institution
Portugal	Enero 15, 2013	Ombudsperson's Office (Provedor de Justiça)	Ombuds Institution
Romania	Julio 2, 2009	The People's Advocate	Ombuds Institution
Serbia	Septiembre 26, 2006	Protector of Citizens, in cooperation with the ombudsperson's offices from the autonomous provinces and human rights associations	Ombuds Plus Institution
Slovenia	Enero 23, 2007	Human Rights Ombudsman, in collaboration with NGOs (Slovenian Red Cross, Legal Information Center for NGOs, Primus Institute, Slovenian Federation of Pensioners' Organisations and Novi paradoks)	Ombuds Plus Institution
Spain	Abril 4, 2006	Ombudsperson's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo)	Ombuds Institution
Sweden	Septiembre 14, 2005	Parliamentary Ombudsmen (Riksdagens Ombudsmän)	Ombuds Institution
Switzerland	Septiembre 24, 2009	National Commission for the Prevention of Torture (Commission nationale pour la prévention de la torture)	New Specialised Institution
Turkey	Septiembre 27, 2011	National Human Rights Institution	National Human Rights Commission
Ukraine	Septiembre 19, 2006	Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights in collaboration with an Expert Council, human rights NGOs and individual monitors.	Ombuds Plus Institution
United Kingdom	Diciembre 10, 2003	21 bodies were designated as part of the UK NPM, coordinated by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons - Click for a complete list	Multiple Institutions

Oriente Medio y África del Norte

País	Date of ratification	NPM Options	NPM Type
Lebanon	Diciembre 22, 2008	National Commission for Human Rights	National Human Rights Commission
Mauritania	Octubre 3, 2012	National Preventive Mechanism	New Specialised Institution
Morocco	Noviembre 24, 2014	National Human Rights Council (Conseil national des droits de l'Homme)	National Human Rights Commission
Tunisia	Junio 29, 2011	National Authority for the Prevention of Torture	New Specialised Institution

África

País	Date of ratification	NPM Options	NPM Type
Burkina Faso	Julio 7, 2010	Commission nationale des droits humains	National Human Rights Commission
Cape Verde	Abril 1, 2016	National Human Rights Commission	National Human Rights Commission
Madagascar	Septiembre 21, 2017	Commission Nationale Indépendante des Droits de l’Homme	National Human Rights Commission
Mali	Mayo 12, 2005	National Human Rights Commission (Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme)	National Human Rights Commission
Mauritius	Junio 21, 2005	National Human Rights Commission	National Human Rights Commission
Mozambique	Julio 1, 2014	National Human Rights Commission (Comissão dos Direitos Humanos)	National Human Rights Commission
Niger	Noviembre 7, 2014	Commission Nationale des Droits Humains	National Human Rights Commission
Nigeria	Julio 27, 2009	National Committee on Torture	New Specialised Institution
Rwanda	Junio 30, 2015	National Commission for Human Rights of Rwanda	National Human Rights Commission
Senegal	Octubre 18, 2006	National Observer of Places of Deprivation of Liberty	New Specialised Institution
South Africa	Junio 20, 2019	The South African Human Rights Commission to be joined, eventually, by other institutions following legislative reform.	Multiple institutions
Togo	Julio 20, 2010	National Human Rights Commission (Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme)	National Human Rights Commission