Intersession Report

This intersession report covers activities from May 2024 to October 2025, presented at the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. It details the work of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA), including commemorations, webinars, and promotion missions. The report also provides an overview of the situation of torture in Africa, highlighting concerns in several countries. Recommendations are made to states to prevent torture and ensure…

ACHPR African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Human Rights our Collective Responsibility

ACHPR/IR/CPTA/83/25

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

85th Ordinary Session

Banjul, 7 to 30 October 2025

Presented by Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem Chairperson of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPTA)

Banjul, 24 October 2025

An Organ of the African Union

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights 31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, West Coast Region Phone: (220) 230 4361 Fax: (220) 441 05 04 Email: au-banjul@africa-union.org https://achpr.au.int/

ACHPR/IR/SM/83/25

Summary

I. Introduction ...P 3 II. Activities carried out during the intersessional period...P 4 A. Activities carried out within the framework of Special Mechanisms...P 4 1. Chairperson of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA)...P 4 2. Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters...P 4 B. Activities carried out as a Member of the Commission...P 5 C. Activities carried out as Country-Rapporteur...P 5 III. Report on the situation of torture and other ill-treatment in Africa...P 7 IV. Recommendations...P 22

ACHPR/IR/SM/83/25

I. INTRODUCTION

The present report is submitted in accordance with Rules 25(3) and 64 of the Rules of Procedure (2020) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), which require each subsidiary mechanism and each member of the Commission to submit, at every Ordinary Session, a written report on the activities carried out between two Ordinary Sessions.

This report on the situation of torture and other ill-treatment in Africa is prepared in accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (the Committee or CPTA), which mandate the Committee to ensure the implementation of the Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment or Treatment in Africa (the Robben Island Guidelines). The Robben Island Guidelines provide practical guidance to both state and non-state actors on how to implement Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), which stipulates that: "Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and to the recognition of his legal status. All forms of exploitation and degradation of man particularly slavery, slave trade, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment shall be prohibited"¹.

I hereby submit the present report in my capacity as Chairperson of the Committee, member of the Commission, and Country Rapporteur for the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of Mauritius, the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Sudan.

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Documents cités dans ce texte

CITE Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment or Treatment in Africa (Robben Island Guidelines) This report on the situation of torture and other ill-treatment in Africa is prepared in accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (the Committee or CPTA), which mandate the Committee to ensure the implementation of the Guidelines and Measures fo
CITE African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights The Robben Island Guidelines provide practical guidance to both state and non-state actors on how to implement Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), which stipulates that: "Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in
CITE United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) Torture is “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having commi
CITE Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa (Robben Island Guidelines) This biannual report on the situation of torture and other ill-treatment in Africa is compiled in accordance with the terms of reference of the CPTA, this mandates the Committee to report to each Ordinary Session of the African Commission on the status of the implementation of the Guidelines and Mea
CITE United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and Optional Protocol to UNCAT (OPCAT) The Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA) promotes the implementation of the Robben Island Guidelines and other important instruments in the prevention and prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment, including the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and the Optio
CITE Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) Since the previous report, there have been additional state parties listed as non-compliant under Article 17 of OPCAT in establishing national preventive mechanisms (NPMs).
CITE General Comment No. 4 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: The Right to Redress for Victims of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment or Treatment (Article 5) States should ensure that victims of torture and other ill-treatment have the right to all forms of redress including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition in accordance with General Comment No. 4 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: