When referring to OPCAT, we often immediately think of torture prevention as the responsibility of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs). However, there are other national actors that also play a fundamental role throughout the entire cycle of prevention, investigation, documentation, accountability and redress for torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
Among these actors, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and academia stand out. With this in mind, the APT carried out a programme of activities in Chile aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with both sectors, recognising their strategic contribution to the effective implementation of international obligations related to torture prevention.
As part of this effort, the APT, in collaboration with Chile’s National Human Rights Institute (INDH), organised a seminar to examine progress and setbacks in the implementation of the State’s international obligations concerning torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The event brought together representatives from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Public Criminal Defence Office, security forces, specialised institutions and academia, creating a space for reflection on current challenges related to prevention, investigation and accountability. Topics discussed included the impact of the Naín-Retamal Law on the prosecution of ill-treatment cases, the application of the Istanbul Protocol, and the remaining challenges to ensuring comprehensive redress for victims.
Collaboration with National Human Rights Institutions is essential to strengthening torture prevention beyond monitoring visits. Thanks to their broad mandates to promote, protect and defend human rights, NHRIs are uniquely positioned to identify trends and patterns of violations, highlight structural issues and advocate for institutional reform.
The visit also included an academic event organised by the Centre for Public Security Studies (CESC) and the Master’s Programme in Criminology and Public Security Management at the University of Chile. The seminar, entitled “Gender and Confinement: An Approach to the Conditions of Women Deprived of Liberty”, brought together academics, students, public officials and civil society organisations to discuss issues such as violence in women’s prisons, barriers to social reintegration, and the methodological challenges of incorporating a gender perspective into public policy and applied research.
Collaboration with universities and research centres is also a strategic investment in long-term torture prevention. Engaging students and young professionals in learning and reflection on human rights in contexts of deprivation of liberty helps foster a new generation of justice sector professionals, researchers, policymakers and prison practitioners with a deeper understanding of international standards and the challenges associated with preventing torture and ill-treatment.
Through these initiatives, the APT strengthened dialogue between public institutions and academia, promoting the integration of international torture prevention standards into institutional practice as well as education, research and public policy development. In doing so, it contributed to building a culture of prevention that engages both current and future generations of professionals working in the fields of justice and deprivation of liberty.