Two National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) – from Senegal and Switzerland – have spent four days exchanging ideas and good practice to strengthen their work for torture prevention, including in detention monitoring.
The NPM workshop, held in Senegal from 14-17 May, was convened by the APT and involved participants from the National Observer of Places of Deprivation of Liberty (ONLPL) of Senegal and the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT) of Switzerland. Financial support was provided by the Swiss Embassy in Senegal.
"Each NPM faces challenges, including ours in Switzerland. In this sense, it is always very important to exchange with our counterparts to import new ideas and approaches for our work back to Switzerland," said Alexandra Kossin, scientific collaborator and deputy head of the NCPT Secretariat.
A primary focus of the mandate of NPMs is to conduct preventive visits to places of deprivation of liberty. The workshop provided opportunities for both NPMs to share their experiences and priorities in this area.
In addition, representatives from both NPMs, as well as the APT, took part in monitoring visits to Thiès prison and Cap Manuel prison. The visits offered an understanding of the concrete challenges faced in these facilities, with participants collaborating to identify practical recommendations.
The APT also led discussions on examining the different situations of vulnerability experienced by people deprived of liberty and how responding to these issues can be integrated into the work of NPMs.
"NPMs must adopt a differentiated approach to identify and mitigate effectively the risks faced by people in situations of vulnerability," said Veronica Filippeschi, APT Senior Adviser for Vulnerabilities and Policy.
The APT's continuous commitment has been essential for the ONLPL, motivating us to pursue our mission with determination."
Senegal was among the first countries to ratify the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2006. The ONLPL was established in 2009, making it one of the oldest NPMs on the African continent.
Over the past 15 years, the ONLPL has played a crucial role in implementing significant reforms within the Senegalese penal system. One of its most recent achievements has been the successful advocacy for the adoption of a law for alternatives to detention in Senegal to reduce prison overcrowding.
Since its implementation in early 2023, more than 30 detainees have benefited from electronic monitoring, reflecting a progressive shift in the management of criminal sentences in Senegal.
As a trusted partner of ONLPL since its establishment, we look for ways to strengthen and support ONLPL members and staff in their regular work, including to conduct effective preventive visits. In addition to convening the four-day workshop programme, the APT also contributed a set of publications to the ONLPL's library.
