An article has been published in the latest edition of the SUR – International Journal on Human Rights which examines the implications arising out of the recent decision of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights to appoint the Chair of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention.

The article reviews the mandates of these Special Mechanisms and considers the potential impact of one Commissioner holding both mandates at the same time. The article also considers whether the current practice of the African Commission to appoint Commissioners as Special Rapporteurs can in fact deliver the necessary expertise and level of action required to function effectively and meet the increasing demands for more mechanisms to be established. Finally, the article suggests that lessons can be drawn from the recent review of the UN Special Procedures in order to reform the Special Mechanisms procedure of the African Commission.

The article was co-written by Debra Long, researcher at the HRIC, and Lukas Muntingh, senior researcher at the Community Law Centre of the University of the Western Cape.

A copy of the article is available to download at:

http://www.surjournal.org/eng/conteudos/pdf/13/miolo.pdf