Regional meeting of National Mechanisms for the prevention of torture in North Africa
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) organize a regional meeting of national mechanisms for the prevention of torture (NPMs) in North Africa from 26 to 28 September 2017 in Rabat.
The purpose of this meeting is to improve the understanding of the status, mandate, organization and functioning of the NPM and to cooperate and exchange on compared experiences of NPMS in North Africa.
The meeting brings together representatives of Tunisian and Mauritanian NPMs and those of the CNDH, which is the Moroccan institution to house the NPM according to the upcoming CNDH Law currently under discussion in the parliament. This event also intended to discuss the main opportunities and challenges faced at the beginning of the existence of these emerging mechanisms and to better understand the preventive mandate.
Finally, this meeting aims to identify needs concerning exchanging and strengthening the capacity of NPMs in the region.
This event will combine plenary sessions and practical exercises using an interactive approach. In this context, members of the French and Italian NPMs are invited to share their practical experiences in implementing the mandate.
Participants will learn about the preventive mandate and its specifications, complaints treatment mechanisms, visit reporting techniques, preventive visit methodologies and interviews with administrative staff and detainees.
Morocco initiated the ratification process of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) on 1 November 2012 and deposited the instruments of ratification on 24 November 2014. Hence, Morocco became the 76th State Party to OPCAT. The latter requires, in its Article 17, the establishment of the NPM within a period not exceeding one year following the entry into force, ratification or accession of the OPCAT.
The opening session of this meeting will be held on 26 September 2017 starting at 2 pm in the auditorium of the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco. Mr. Driss El Yazami, President of the CNDH will take part to this gathering jointly with Mr. Mustapha Ramid, Minister of State for human rights, Mrs. Barbara Bernath, Head of Operations of the APT in Geneva and Mr. Massimo Baggi, ambassador of Switzerland in Morocco.
This meeting will continue on 27 and 28 September 2017 at the CNDH’s National Human Rights Training Institute- Driss Benzekri.
To sum up:
Event: Regional meeting for National Mechanisms for the prevention of torture in North Africa
Time and venue: 26 September 2017 starting at 2 pm in the auditorium of the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco
Media contact: Abdelghani Berdi +2126 62 76 23 25 / a.berdi@cndh.org.ma