Realising a torture-free region for Southeast Asia is the ambitious and welcome agenda of ASEAN’s human rights body and the theme of a recent regional conference.
The meeting was an opportunity for States, national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society organisations from the 10 ASEAN countries and Timor Leste, together with the AESEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), to discuss developments and challenges in building torture-free societies.
The APT was invited to participate in the dialogue, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 28-29 August 2023.
Alongside colleagues from SUARAM and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, we presented our joint #SafeInCustody project, which seeks to address the risk of forced confession and incommunicado detention in three ASEAN countries.
Key to the success of the #SafeInCustody project has been building partnerships and collaboration between civil society organisations, law enforcement, government agencies and NHRIs in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
These collaborations have resulted in: a commitment to integrate the Méndez Principles on Effective Interviewing into police training curriculum (Thailand); strengthening processes for monitoring places of detention (Philippines); and engaging young people in a constructive dialogue on torture prevention and rights on arrest.
The presenters noted that integrating hope-based communication - to focus on the benefits of torture prevention initiatives using positive messaging - has helped build engagement with all partners and the broader community on the importance of creating societies where everyone is safe in custody.
This dialogue was a milestone that highlighted the critical importance of building collaboration and a shared commitment among all stakeholders to realise the vision of a torture-free Southeast Asia.
This theme of collaboration was echoed by APT Secretary General Barbara Bernath, who addressed the regional dialogue virtually.
Ms Bernath shared practical approaches for building a torture-free region, based on APT’s ‘House of Prevention’:
- Having a strong legal framework, including legal safeguards (the foundation)
- Implemented in practice, through leadership, operational training and procedural safeguards (the walls)
- Supervised by external and independent control mechanisms, such as NHRIs (the protective roof).
Several ASEAN member States have already adopted anti-torture legislation, with Thailand passing landmark legislation at the end of 2022.
Ms Bernath stressed that these positive developments can be strengthened by implementing practical and concrete measures, such as the use of the Mendez Principles on Effective Interviewing to move away from a culture of interrogation.
Drawing on the discussions over the two days, the AICHR will prepare recommendations on torture prevention for the consideration of their members.
The Regional Dialogue on Realising Southeast Asia as a Torture-Free Region was hosted by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, with the support of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australian Aid, Norway Embassy in Jakarta, and the Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights.
