Sir Malcolm Evans presents at OPCAT expert symposium 'Preventing Abuse in detention', RMIT University, Australia

Press release issued: 22 January 2018

It is widely recognised that people who are held in places of detention are vulnerable to ill-treatment, whether they are detained in prisons, police cells, immigration detention centres, or facilities for people with disabilities or mental illness. Regular monitoring by independent external agencies is an important way of protecting people held in detention from ill-treatment.

As Chair of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) Sir Malcolm Evans, Director of the Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC), University of Bristol, gave a presentation at the Optional Protocol on the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) expert symposium, held in December at the RMIT University, Australia.

National and international human rights experts gathered together at this event, to ensure that Australia's ratification of OPCAT fulfils its potential, ensuring that people in closed environments are treated in accordance with their basic human rights. Sir Malcolm talked about his role on the UN SPT, his work on torture prevention and the huge potential of the OPCAT to make a difference to Australia and the opportunities it presents for the engagement of civil society and NGO's with the oversight of places of detention.

Sir Malcolm explained OPCAT has made a real difference to the countries that have become party to the system. It is the obligation to establish a comprehensive network of independent visiting mechanisms across the country. What is clear is that it makes a difference in terms of what it can inspire others to do. It creates a system and National Preventative Mechanisms established under the OPCAT are not just NPMS, they become part of a broader network that work internationally and are linked to the UN SPT, which draws on their work.

Following the conference Australia ratified the OPCAT and is now working on the implementation of its new treaty obligations.

Listen to Sir Malcolm's presentation here: Sir Malcolm Evans presents at OPCAT expert symposium (Office document, 6,766kB)

Further information

Sir Malcolm Evans is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Bristol. He served as Head of the School of Law (2003-2005) and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law (2005-2009). Professor Evans is a renowned authority in the field of international law of the sea and international human rights protection, particularly torture and torture prevention and freedom of religion or belief. In 2009, he was elected member of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and in 2010 elected as Chairperson. He is also a member of the UK Foreign Secretary’s Human Rights Advisory Group.

Please contact the HRIC administrator Suzanne Mills for further information.