Fingerprints in a police station. At the same time, the NHRI can use its new monitoring powers as NPM to conduct unannounced visits to police stations, where it can see directly how safeguards – including access to family – are implemented in practice.
Sean Tait is the founder and Director of the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF).
In a landmark demonstration of continental leadership, Africa has become a global frontrunner in embracing the Méndez Principles. This momentum was solidified by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) through its ground-breaking Resolution 545 (LXXIII) 2022, which formally adopted the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering. Actively driving this continental shift, the Southern African Development Community (SADC)—utilizing its regional policing infrastructure to coordinate across 16 Member States—has positively responded by integrating these principles into a comprehensive review of regional police interview practices, establishing a new benchmark for human rights-based, torture-free investigative reforms.
This commitment marks a pivotal step in enhancing interview practices across the region. The journey has been thorough and deliberative, culminating in SADC Member States and their police agencies embracing the Méndez Principles as a framework for review.
To kickstart this initiative, SADC organized a two-day conference on 1- 2 July 2024 in Johannesburg South Africa, focusing on interview practices within the region. The conference aimed to popularize the ACHPR resolution, introduce the Méndez Principles, and identify key needs among Southern African police organizations in applying these principles. Senior police representatives from the criminal investigation divisions (CIDs) of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe attended the event.
With technical support from the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), the conference developed a self-assessment survey to evaluate interview practices among Southern African police organizations. The survey covers several key areas:
Legal Foundations: Assessing whether interview practices are grounded in legal frameworks that support procedural and custodial safeguards to reduce the risk of torture.
Information Gathering: Evaluating the extent to which the comprehensive process promoted by the Méndez Principles is implemented to gather accurate and reliable information.
Vulnerability Identification: Exploring how vulnerabilities are identified and addressed during interviews.
Professional Standards: Examining the extent to which interviewing is taught and supported by professional standards.
Accountability: Addressing issues of accountability through documentation, access to complaint mechanisms, and independent inquiries.
The finalized questionnaire was translated into French and Portuguese and distributed via Google Forms to SADC police organizations. The survey results were collected and analysed during 2024 and 2025 and are currently being validated by SADC and will be presented to the Ministers responsible for policing in the region for final adoption and release. These survey results will offer unique insights into how police organizations align with the Méndez Principles and demonstrate a methodology for regional bodies to facilitate reviews required under Article 11 of the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT).
The Southern African Development Community's (SADC) use of the Méndez Principles represents a landmark commitment to enhancing human rights and preventing torture across the region. By aligning with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) and implementing a comprehensive review of police interview practices, SADC is taking proactive steps to ensure that law enforcement agencies operate within a framework that prioritizes legal safeguards, accountability, and professional standards. The collaborative efforts of SADC Member States, supported by organizations like the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), underscore the importance of regional cooperation in addressing complex human rights challenges. As the survey results are validated and presented to regional ministers, the insights gained will serve as a valuable tool for further refining and strengthening police practices. This initiative not only sets a precedent for other regions but also reaffirms SADC's dedication to fostering a culture of respect, transparency, and justice in policing.