On Tuesday 12 September, the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) organised a side-event titled “Applying the UN Convention against Torture: Promoting effective training and questioning”, held at the Palais des Nations on the margins of the 54th session of the Human Rights Council, currently taking place in Geneva from 11 September to 13 October.

Moderated by Ms. Gayethri Pillay, Head of CTI Secretariat, and opened by H.E. Ambassador Erik Brøgger Rasmussen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations in Geneva, the side-event featured contributions from five panellists, namely, Prof. Juan E. Méndez, Member of the UN ELMER and former UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Ms. Barbara Bernath, Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), Mr. Bardia Jebeli, Human Rights Officer at the Secretariat of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Ms. Santanee Ditsayabut, Expert Public Prosecutor and Director of the Secretariat Office of Nitivajra Institute in Thailand.

The most compelling reason why we have changed our practices is because science tells us that torture does not work.

H.E. Ambassador Erik Brøgger Ramussen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations in Geneva sharing Denmark’s commitment to torture prevention and contributions to the global fight against torture

Aimed at highlighting and showcasing the added value of the Principles on Effective Interviewing and Information Gathering (the Méndez Principles) and the CTI Tools on Arrest and Safeguards as key tools assisting States to give compliance to their obligations under Articles 10 and 11 of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), the side-event fostered critical discussions on how these tools can guide States to implement legal safeguards and the investigative interviewing methodology in the first hours of police custody, and particularly during the questioning of suspects, witnesses and victims. The event also allowed for cross-regional exchange of States’ experiences on existing rules, instructions, methods, and practices for the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment.

Speaking on Thailand’s progress on torture prevention and response, including through the enactment of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, which entered into force in February 2023, Ms. Santanee Ditsayabut underscored the importance of building a strong anti-torture legal framework and the numerous awareness-raising activities and trainings that Thailand has organised for officials from the Attorney General’s Office and the Royal Thai Police, in particular.

Enactment of the law is an important step forward but enforcement is more important – the knowledge and understanding of its provisions, coupled with adequate training

Ms. Santanee Ditsayabut, Expert Public Prosecutor and Director of the Secretariat Office of Nitivajra Institute in Thailand

Following the panellists’ remarks, a moderated discussion and question and answer session took place, which heard from representatives of States and civil society organisations and revolved around three key points: a) what more can the international community do, and particularly the UN system, to hold Governments accountable for violations of the absolute prohibition against torture; b) how can States ensure that public officials are adequately trained to prevent torture, particularly during questioning; and c) fostering inter-regional cooperation with other Governments and judiciaries on these topics to promote existing good practices and experiences.

For States interested in how CTI can support their efforts towards ratification and/or implementation of UNCAT, please contact info@cti2024.org.