On Monday 4th February 2013 Professor Malcolm Evans will be delivering the 11th Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture at the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) based at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). This lecture is organised by the
Our major goal is to see effective National Preventive Mechanisms established in all States parties in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
Westminster branch of the United Nations Association together with the CISD and the International Committee of the Bar Council.
In his lecture entitled ‘The UN and Torture Prevention’ Professor Evans will draw on his experiences with the UN’s Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture (SPT) of which he has been an expert Member since 2009, and Chairperson since 2010.
The SPT is mandated by the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). It has a dual approach to preventing torture that includes oversight from the SPT itself, including through visits to detention facilities in the States Parties to the Convention, and obliging States Parties also to establish or designate their own National Preventive Mechanisms for preventive oversight.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly in October 2012, Professor Evans said: ‘Our major goal is to see effective National Preventive Mechanisms established in all States parties in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture criteria as swiftly as possible. When coupled with international oversight by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, we consider this to be the most potent means possible to prevent torture and ill-treatment.’