| AFRICAN UNION | UNION AFRICAINE | |
|---|---|---|
| الاتحاد الأفريقي African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights | UNIÃO AFRICANA Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme & des Peuples | |
| 31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, Western Region, P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia Tel: (220) 4410505 / 4410506; Fax: (220) 4410504 E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org; Web www.achpr.org |
RULES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF THE ALERT AND REPORTING MECHANISM TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS ON SITUATIONS OF TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT
ABIDJAN RULES
CONTENTS
| Glossary | Page 3 |
|---|---|
| Foreword | Page 4 |
| Introduction | Page 5 |
| Objective | Page 6 |
| Methodology | Page 6 |
| Description of Internal Procedures | Pages 7 et 8 |
| Alert form | Page 9 |
| Code of conduct for partnership | Page 12 - 13 |
| Partnership Form | Page 14 - 15 |
GLOSSARY:
ACHPR: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
CPTA: Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa
The African Charter: the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
UNCAT: UN Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
OPCAT: Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture
RIG: Robben Island Guidelines
NPM / MNP: National Prevention Mechanisms
SOP/ PON: Standard Operating Procedures
NHRI: National Human Rights Institution
CSO: Civil Society Organization(s) NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
ACAT: Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (NGO)
FIACAT: International Federation of ACAT
OMCT: World Organization Against Torture (NGO)
IRCT: International Rehabilitation Council for Torture victims (NGO)
REDRESS: International organization working for the reparation of victims of torture and their families.
EXPLANATORY NOTE BY THE CHAIR
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) adopted the Robben Island Guidelines in October 2002, which reaffirmed the absolute, universal and unwavering condemnation of torture, and established "the prohibition of torture", "the prevention of torture" and "addressing the needs of victims" as top priorities. In 2004, the Working Group on Torture was renamed the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA), which was set up to promote the Guidelines and facilitate their implementation. The Guidelines have strengthened the international instruments prohibiting torture on our continent, notably the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT).
The CPTA has been working with States, National Human Rights Institutions, National Preventive Mechanisms and Civil Society Organisations to ensure the prevention and prohibition of torture and to provide reparation for victims. In so doing, it felt the need to establish a system to seek information on acts of torture and effectively monitor emergency action measures.