News
Recommendations to ratify Convention against Torture dominated at UPR37
Geneva, 4 February 2021 – From 18 to 29 January 2021, the 37th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place in Geneva. The ratification of UNCAT and other core human rights treaties was one of the major themes of the session. The UPR is one of the main events of the UN Human Rights Council, […]
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Focus on Angola, the story of Africa’s latest UNCAT State Party
The Convention against Torture Initiative’s first publication of the year presents Angola’s experience of becoming a party to the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) as part of CTI’s “States parties in focus” blog series. Angola’s story highlights how UNCAT is supporting the Government’s human rights reform agenda, and sets out a number of major initiatives […]
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Protecting the rights of women in prison: the Bangkok Rules at 10
Geneva, 22 December 2020. Today, we recognise the 10th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the first set of universal rules for women in criminal justice systems: the UN Rules on the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders. The so-called ‘Bangkok Rules’ represent a pivotal change in recognising the […]
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CTI recommends 10 rudiments for rights-compliant, professional police
The Convention against Torture Initiative’s (CTI) Secretariat submitted a contribution to an upcoming report addressing systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies, which H.E. Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights, will present during the 47th session of the Human Rights Council in […]
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What has Covid-19 got to do with torture? New CTI advisory note explains!
While States around the world are managing the serious health, social and economic effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, CTI releases a short document providing advice on the applicability and benefits of implementing the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) to this situation. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, States around the world have been […]
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CTI joins ASEAN States to imagine torture-free societies
On 3 December 2020, the Head of the CTI Secretariat, Dr. Alice Edwards, contributed to a consultation of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on the Implementation of Article 14 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The consultation took place in Jakarta, Indonesia and virtually on 3-4 December 2020, at the initiative of […]
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Caribbean countries convene to exchange experiences on torture laws
On 1-3 December 2020, nine Caribbean countries*, involving 23 government representatives, took part in an online workshop organised by the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), in partnership with REDRESS and the Commonwealth Secretariat, and hosted by the Governments of Chile and Grenada. The workshop was designed to support Caribbean governments to ratify, implement and report […]
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CTI publishes “Grenada in focus” ahead of Caribbean regional seminar
The latest entry in CTI’s “States parties in focus” blog series explores Grenada’s experience of ratifying the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) in 2019, and explains the Government’s plans and progress. Released ahead of CTI’s Caribbean regional workshop being hosted by Grenada this week, the blog highlights some of the positive measures the country has […]
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CTI partners with Sidley law firm to bolster anti-torture legal advice to States
CTI is pleased to announce a new partnership with Sidley Austin LLP’s pro bono legal services. The global law firm will contribute to CTI’s growing practice of undertaking comprehensive research and providing confidential and tailor-made advice on anti-torture legal and regulatory frameworks, as States take action to ratify and/or implement the United Nations Convention against […]
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CTI’s UNCAT Ratification Toolkit now updated
The Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) today launches the updated version of its Ratification Toolkit on the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). The Toolkit, with a new easy-to-read design, offers executive decision-makers critical information to help prepare to ratify the treaty. CTI’s UNCAT Ratification Toolkit explains […]
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Could Covid-19 lead to permanent prison reform? CTI briefs UN sub-body
Geneva, 10 November 2020 – Today, H.E. Nazhat Shameem Khan, Permanent Representative of Fiji, and H.E. Omar Zniber, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations in Geneva, on behalf of the six CTI Core States, and Dr Alice Edwards, Head of the CTI Secretariat, briefed the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT). This year’s annual […]
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