Workshop on the prevention of torture

Mozambique is a state party to the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) since 1999 and it has recently ratified the Optional Protocol to UNCAT (OPCAT). Under UNCAT, states are obliged to combat and prevent torture as well as provide redress to victims of torture.States are also required to report regularly to the Committee Against Torture (CAT)- the treaty monitoring body. Article 10 of the Convention specifically states that "Each State Party shall ensure that education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment". The Legal Training Centre is hosting a workshop on the prevention of torture in Mozambique, in collaboration with REFORMAR - Research for Mozambique and ACJR, on 10 and 11 October 2017. The workshop aims at debating measures to prevent torture in the country, as well as enhance knowledge on addressing torture and providing redress to victims. Officials from the Criminal Investigative Police Service (Serviço Nacional Investigação Criminal, SERNIC), National Penitentiary Service (Serviço Nacional Penitenciário, SERNAP), prosecutors and magistrates, as well as lawyers of the Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados de Moçambique, OAM) and paralegals of the Legal Aid Institute (Instituto Patrocinio Assistência Jurídica e Judiciaria, IPAJ) will attend the event. The Human Rights League and the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Forensic Service will attend the event and share developments and challenges on addressing torture in Mozambiqu