Four leading organisations working to prevent torture in Togo have called on their government to adopt and implement the Méndez Principles on Effective Interviewing.
Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT Togo), the National Human Rights Commission of Togo (CNDH), the Collective of Associations Against Impunity in Togo (CACIT) and World Solidarity for the Destitute Persons and Detainees (SMPDD) also urged the endorsement of the Méndez Principles by the international community.
In a statement to mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, they said the endorsement of the Méndez Principles would “reduce the risk of illegal, abusive and coercive practices and improve the legitimacy and quality of criminal justice investigations”.
“The Méndez Principles offer an alternative to prevent the risk of statements being obtained by coercion or by the brutality of torture,” the statement said.
“They combine legal standards with a solid and growing body of scientific research on the most effective interview methods for obtaining accurate and reliable information from an interviewee.”
Togo ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture in 1987.
“The Méndez Principles contribute to implementing the obligations set out in the Convention, in particular those that require Togo to review its interrogation methods and procedures, to train law enforcement personnel, and to take measures to prevent torture,” the statement said.
The four organisations recalled that the Méndez Principles “constitute a new opportunity for Togo to move forward on the path to prevent torture and ill-treatment, in particular during first hours of police custody and interrogations”.
“Together, the CNDH, ACAT Togo, CACIT and SMPDD reaffirm their common commitment to advancing human rights and the effective administration of justice in Togo,” the statement concluded.
