From 12 – 14 June, Government representatives from 13 Pacific Island Countries come together in Natadola, Fiji, to strengthen their countries’ engagement and collaboration toward ratification
and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT).

The “Pacific Learning Exchange on the United Nations Convention against Torture” is hosted by the
Government of Fiji, as a CTI Core State of the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), and held between 12 – 14 June in Natadola, Fiji. It is organised in a joint effort by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Pacific, the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), and the Pacific Community (SPC) Human Rights and Social Development Division.

Fiji’s Attorney-General, the Honourable Siromi Dokonivalu Turaga, officially opened the three-day
regional meeting, and remarked in his Opening address:

Torture and ill-treatment of people in any form has no place in the home, school and work or any other place and it is critical that we, as Pacific Island States, unite in our condemnation of such practices and take concrete steps to eradicate them.

Several Pacific Island Countries have in place laws, policies and practices to prevent and combat torture
and ill-treatment, including in the administration of justice. The Convention adds value to these efforts to
protect Pacific people from practices that may amount to torture or ill-treatment, and it reinforces the very foundations and values of Pacific societies by ensuring respect for human dignity.

Six countries in the Pacific are currently party to the Convention, namely Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Nauru, Samoa and Vanuatu, and it is hoped that more will soon ratify the Convention.

Pacific Regional Representative for the United Nations Human Rights Office, Ms. Heike Alefsen,
encouraged Pacific Island Countries to accelerate engagement and remarked:

Let the 75th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights be the year you take more concrete, effective, forceful action to combat torture and il-treatment and implement the United Nations Convention against Torture across all Pacific Island Countries.

During the three-day Learning Exchange starting today, Governments will share experiences, good
practices and challenges with regard to the ratification and implementation of the Convention in the Pacific. Those who have ratified the Convention will discuss how to better engage with the United Nations Committee against Torture and benefit from the independent expert body’s guidance, while others will get an orientation to the work the Committee.

Dr. Paula Vivili, Deputy Director-General of SPC, said:

We know the importance of bringing together experts and stakeholders from across the Pacific and worldwide, to discuss anti-torture laws, policies and practices in support of the well-being and livelihoods of its people, and the protection of their human rights.

Also released at the event was the CTI study paper on anti-torture legislative frameworks in the Pacific.

Gayethri Pillay, Head of the CTI Secretariat said:

CTI’s goal is to support the universal ratification and improved implementation of the UN Convention against Torture, including through experiencing sharing and learning from best practices. We trust this event, and our Study Paper which identifies positive practices in the Pacific, will lend towards these efforts.

The three-day Pacific Learning Exchange will conclude on Wednesday, 14 June.

About the UN Convention against Torture
The right to be free from torture and ill-treatment is absolute and non-derogable. The UN Convention
against Torture remains the most comprehensive international human rights instrument against torture,
providing for its absolute prohibition of torture and obliging States parties to take effective legislative,
administrative, judicial, or other measures to prevent any acts of torture under their jurisdiction. Learn
more: https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cat