Engaging with the National Preventive Mechanisms in New Zealand

New Zealand ratified the OPCAT in March 2007 and designated four institutions as National Preventive Mechanisms (Office of the Ombudsmen, Office of the Children's Commissioner, Independent Police Conduct Authority and Inspector of Service of Penal Establishments) and the Human Rights Commission as the Central coordinating National Preventive Mechanism. Following its visit in September 2007 to meet with the emerging NPMs, an APT delegation, including Ms Silvia Casale, former Chairperson of the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture (SPT), travelled to Wellington from 26 to 27 November 2009 to discuss with the New Zealand NPM its functioning and how its experience may be better shared internationally. The APT also took this opportunity to have a roundtable discussion with all relevant governmental officials and explore the challenges related to the implementation of the OPCAT in New Zealand.