The Centre carries out a number of activities which aim to promote the implementation of the prohibition against torture and other ill-treatment under international law. In particular, the HRIC is recognised as one of the leading organisations working on the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The OPCAT seeks to prevent torture and other ill-treatment through the establishment of a system of regular visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty undertaken by a UN treaty body, the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), and national bodies, National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs).

The HRIC developed its expertise on the OPCAT through a three-year project funded by the AHRC. The implementation of the optional protocol to the UN Convention to the UN Convention Against Torture OPCAT Project. 

The HRIC continues to provide advice to governments, national human rights institutions and civil society organisations on the implementation of the OPCAT, in particular by engaging with national efforts on the establishment and effective functioning of NPMs.

The HRIC engages regularly with the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture. See the Submission made on Draft general comment on Article 4 of OPCAT (PDF, 119kB).

The HRIC’s core activities in relation to the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment includes:

• Conducting internationally recognised research into the designation and effective functioning of National Preventive Mechanisms
• Holding international, regional and national conferences and seminars to further understanding of how to prevent torture and other ill-treatment in practice
• Working with and providing advice to governments, national human rights institutions, and national preventive mechanisms (NPMs) and civil society organisations to assist with the designation and effective functioning of National Preventive Mechanisms in practice
• Working with international and regional human rights bodies to strengthen implementation of standards on the prohibition and prevention of torture and other ill-treatment
• Providing submissions to international and regional processes to develop standards or interpret existing obligations to prohibit and prevent torture and other ill-treatment prevention
• Providing advice to assist with the development of legislation aimed at criminalising torture and other ill-treatment

HRIC torture prevention projects: