Torture prevention
Risks of torture and ill-treatment exist everywhere, in any country at any time. Torture prevention is a global strategy that intends to reduce these risks and create an environment where torture and ill-treatment are less likely to occur.
Torture prevention works
The APT commissioned a global independent research on “Does torture prevention work?”. Published in 2016, it shows that torture prevention, when consisting of the measures above, does work.
Most important of all are the safeguards that should be applied in the first hours after a person is taken into custody; notification of family and access to an independent lawyer and doctor has a significant impact in reducing torture. Investigation of torture and effective prosecution of torturers as well as independent monitoring of places of detention are also key in reducing torture. We have used these findings to guide our work.