The 40th anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was marked by a series of events in Brazilian capital city, Brasilia, during the week of 2-6 of December 2024.
Organised by the APT in collaboration with the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Brazil (MNPCT), the activities brought together all the Local Preventive Mechanisms (LPMs) currently operating in the country.
“It was particularly noteworthy to gather all Brazilian NPMs for the first time on this special occasion, the 40th anniversary of the Convention. As APT, we celebrate the growing momentum for the designation of new NPMs in the country and feel energised to use the international celebration date as an opportunity to look forward and provide training to new staff members and newly designated local preventive mechanisms,” said Sylvia Dias, APT Senior Legal Advisor and Country Representative in Brazil.
The training also presented an opportunity to rally researchers, policymakers and representatives of civil society organisations during thematic sessions. These dialogues allowed technical exchanges about the role of oversight bodies in the protection of people under heightened vulnerability and detained in a variety of settings for the deprivation of liberty.
Discussions ranged from the detrimental consequences and the greater risk of torture and ill-treatment against people with psychosocial disabilities living in therapeutic communities, to the intersecting gender perspective into the monitoring of places of detention. The findings of APT's global report on Women in Prison were also presented and discussed.
The NPM raised awareness about elderly people in long term facilities and introduced their recently issued guidelines on how to monitor and protect elderly people who are institutionalised. This is an unprecedented initiative at national level, based on the understanding that there are no minimum guidelines in current Brazilian legislation for the prevention of torture for this specific group.
“The workshop provided a qualified discussion on inspection methodologies and standards, allowing for a more integrated work between the Brazilian Mechanisms. It was possible to discuss the challenges and specificities of the different regions of Brazil, to share the experience of the LPMs and to envisage common paths and strategies," said Carolina Lemos, expert from the National Mechanism for Preventing and Combating Torture.
As part of the celebration week, a public session was held at the National Congress of Brazil, bringing together legislators, social movements and organizations, NPMs and justice system actors. Enrique Vieira, the parliamentarian who convened the meeting, committed to sending letters to all governors whose states have not adopted LMPs in accordance with the Brazilian Law, the OPCAT and most recent recommendations of international bodies to Brazil.
“Unfortunately, torture is a daily reality; for example, in Brazil’s prison system and psychiatric hospitals. Brazil bears the scars of racism, the criminalisation of poverty and the violence against black people and people living in the outskirts of Brazilian cities,” said Enrique Vieira, federal deputy in Brazil’s National Congress.
The APT thanks the many partners and all the 30 NPM and LPM expert members who participated in the workshop and events in Brasilia, namely from the LPMs of Acre, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Paraíba, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia and Sergipe. We also express our deep gratitude to the experts who provided technical input to the thematic seminars of the programme.
