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Thematic recommendations on torture and prisons in Africa
NGOs Forum
November 09, 2008

We, the participants at the Forum for the Participation of NGOs at the 44th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights:

Concerned by the instances of torture perpetrated and overlooked by the governments of certain African states, and the slow pace of prison reform.

Recommend to the ACHPR to:

1. URGE States to domesticate regional and international human rights instruments with a view to the criminalisation of torture.
2. ENCOURAGE training of judges, prosecutors, police, lawyers, prison officers, health professionals and other relevant agents on the prohibition of torture and the implementation of the Robben Island Guidelines and other international and regional human rights instruments.
3. URGES State parties to ensure funding and support for the rehabilitation of torture victims, their families and communities and to provide victims access to justice and reparations.
4. URGE the Follow-up Committee on the implementation of the Robben Island Guidelines to provide a training manual on the prevention and prohibition of torture for agencies such as police, prisons, military, judiciary and other law enforcement agencies.
5. URGE the Follow-up Committee on the implementation of the Robben Island Guidelines to facilitate the development of curricula for primary, secondary and tertiary schools, which should include human rights education and issues of torture prohibition, prevention, redress and rehabilitation of torture victims.
6. URGE State parties to ratify and implement the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) as well as opening all places of detention to independent monitoring bodies.
7. URGE State parties to develop alternatives to imprisonment and to implement other measurements aimed at reducing overcrowding and torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment in prisons and other places of detention.
8. URGE State parties to develop and adopt comprehensive strategic plans for criminal justice reform, with clear priorities for implementation and resourcing, bearing in mind that it is only in such a comprehensive framework that torture can be effectively eradicated. In developing such a plan, to involve civil society experts and refer to the many guidelines and manuals produced or endorsed by the African Commission, UN and other agencies.
9. URGE state parties who have not abolished the death penalty to ensure that prisoners held on death row are held in conditions that respect regional and international standards
10. URGE State parties to close all secret detention centres and to eradicate forced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings within their respective jurisdictions.
11. ENCOURAGE the African Commission to develop procedure(s) to coordinate the work of its special mechanisms on cross-cutting issues especially on Torture, Prison Conditions, Death Penalty, Children, Women, etc.
12. ENCOURAGE the African Commission's Special Mechanisms on Torture and Prisons to participate actively in the regional and International meetings, workshops and conferences aimed at prohibition and prevention of torture and improvement of conditions of detention; and conduct relevant follow-up activities.

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