On 14 November, the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) held its annual briefing to the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) as part of the Committee’s 75^th session, which is taking place in Geneva from 31 October to 25 November, and marking the first in-person briefing to the Committee since May 2019.

H.E. Ambassador Omar Zniber, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, and H.E. Ambassador Emmanuel Kwame Asiedu Antwi, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, delivered joint remarks on behalf of CTI, highlighting progress in supporting States to ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). Their remarks also provided an update on CTI’s latest UNCAT implementation activities, including the holding of a number of events and the launch of several tools in different thematic areas since CTI’s last briefing to the Committee in July 2021.

With Sudan’s ratification in August 2021 and Suriname’s accession in November 2021, Ambassador Zniber highlighted that the South American continent and the League of Arab States have now both achieved full regional ratification of the Convention. Providing an update on CTI’s recent events, including an online briefing for CARICOM Permanent Missions in Geneva, an HRC49 online side-event and a major regional seminar for the Asia-Pacific held in Bali, Indonesia, on the latter, Ambassador Zniber noted:

This seminar built on recommendations from the previous CTI Bali regional seminar held in 2019, particularly to have deeper engagement and thematic discussions on the implementation of legal and procedural safeguards in police custody and on investigative interviewing as an alternative to move away from coercive interrogation techniques.

H.E. Ambassador Omar Zniber, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva

Among other recent activities, Ambassador Antwi updated the Committee on the launch of the Report titled “Anti-Torture Standards in Common Law Africa: Good Practices and Way Forward”, which CTI developed in partnership with REDRESS, and a recent technical workshop for Gambian officials to build capacity on complaints, investigations and prosecution mechanisms against torture. Speaking on the Report, Ambassador Antwi mentioned:

The recommendations contained in this report were used to raise awareness and build capacity on UNCAT implementation at the Technical Workshop that CTI recently organised in The Gambia this past October.

H.E. Ambassador Emmanuel Kwame Asiedu Antwi, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva

An engaging discussion followed with CAT’s Chairperson and members on ways to encourage UNCAT ratification, as well as on mutual collaboration and support towards ratification and improved implementation, including on reporting to CAT and the operationalization of the eight-year review cycle.

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