From 30 April to 4 May 2012, the SPT conducted its first ever NPM-advisory mission to Honduras. The SPT is mandated by article 11.b) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture to advise and assist national preventive mechanisms (NPM) in the evaluation of the needs and the means necessary to strengthen the protection [...]

Commentary by Tom Pegram (Project Co-Organizer)
An interesting debate has been occurring in the virtual pages of the Chilean broadsheet El Mercurio in recent days.  As I’ve discussed in this blog, the Chilean NHRI or Institute for Human Rights (INDH) since it was created in 2009 has quickly positioned itself as a vocal human rights advocate [...]

The Rio de Janeiro Sub-National Preventive Mechanism to Combat Torture has issued its 2012 report.  Brazil ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture in 2007 but is yet to designate its National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).  Brazil is now in violation of Article 17 of the OPCAT which stipulates that the State Parties to [...]

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) welcomes the National Congress of Argentina’s recent approval of legislation that creates the System for Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. The IACHR applauds this action as an important step in protecting the fundamental rights of persons deprived of liberty and the fulfillment of [...]

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan E. Mendez pointed out on Thursday that several initiatives of the Government of Uruguay “positively contribute to improving the conditions of detention and of the prison system in general.” However, he stressed that “there are still several problems that prevent the general conditions of detention from being satisfactory, [...]