DELIVERED BY
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
AT
14th international Conference of National Human Rights Institutions
LOCATION
Copenhagen
“Torture and other ill-treatment: the role of National Human Rights Institutions”
Thank you for the opportunity to address this gathering, and my thanks also to the co-organizers of this conference.
The theme of your meeting is an important one. There is no circumstance in which torture is acceptable. Deliberately inflicting pain on a person who is captive, and unable to defend themself, is unjustifiable.
But despite the absolute prohibition of torture, there are many countries in which if you are arrested, you are likely to be physically ill-treated while in custody. Many of you, our colleagues in National Human Rights Institutions, have direct knowledge of this. As our vital partners in advancing human rights in your countries, most of you have already done extensive work to prevent and address torture. I hope you will be able to share with colleagues at this conference some of those experiences.
The UN Common Position on Incarceration, which was launched in 2021, states clearly that given the closed nature of prisons and the inherent risk of abuse, a two-fold system of regular monitoring and inspections — by both the prison service and by external, independent bodies — is essential for preventing torture and ill treatment.
This brings me to the role of National Preventive Mechanisms. The establishment of regular visits to places of detention by independent experts is the most effective way to prevent torture. And both National Human Rights Institutions and National Preventive Mechanisms have great value in that respect — but their roles are not identical. Although the two institutions do need to cooperate very closely, many National Preventive Mechanisms, in line with OPCAT, are institutionally separate from National Human Rights Institutions.
Even when they function under the auspice of the National Human Rights Institution, National Preventive Mechanisms still need to be functionally distinct from the National Human Rights Institution, with significant operational and financial autonomy. This is another area in which sharing of different kinds of experience during this conference could be very helpful.
Your conference is taking place at a key moment in this important year for the human rights community.
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and 30 years since the adoption of the Paris Principles. In a month’s time my Office will be organising a high-level event to commemorate the Universal Declaration. And to rekindle its spirit, we are seeking global pledges to advance human rights.
Among those pledges, I hope we will see many commitments to signing and ratifying OPCAT, as well as the other international human rightsinstruments and treaties.
I also hope to see many States pledging to support and empower their national human rights institutions — and that they will commit to ensuring both that your independence is respected, and that your recommendations are implemented.
You do essential and principled work to uphold human rights, often in very challenging environments. The 88 NHRIs that are currently accredited as fully compliant with the Paris Principles have met exacting standards. I trust that you will continue to operate effectively and with independence. I encourage the 32 ‘B’ Status institutions to adopt reforms to ensure that your institutions can act independently of the authorities to advance human rights. My Office will always be ready to provide support to these efforts.
I count on you to encourage your governments, and other stakeholders, to commit to making pledges that can advance human rights in the coming decades. And I trust you will make such pledges also.
Human rights are the basis of peace and the underpinnings of sustainable development. All States and people have a stake in creating a world in which human rights are lived realities for all.
Thank you.
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