History & impact

In October 1976, a journal in Geneva publishes an article by Jean-Jacques Gautier called “A new weapon against torture”. In the article, Gautier proposes an international convention to establish a system of unannounced visits to places of detention. Gautier’s idea was to prevent, rather than react to, violations.

In 1977, Jean-Jacques Gautier founds the Swiss Committee Against Torture (Comité Suisse contre la torture), which later becomes the APT, as a platform to promote an international convention to establish a universal system of visits to places of deprivation of liberty. Gautier is convinced that it is possible to prevent torture by opening all places of detention to outside monitoring.

Costa Rica deposits a first project for an Optional Protocol to the future UN Convention against Torture.

The Swiss Committee against Torture (later to become the APT) organises a landmark conference, bringing together international experts and key organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists. The aim: to create a global strategy to fight torture. Amnesty International presents a proposal for the UN to establish a Special Rapporteur on torture (which happens in 1985). Conference delegates resolve to found SOS Torture, a global rapid-response network of NGOs. In 1986, SOS Torture becomes the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

On 10 December, Human Rights Day, the UN General Assembly adopts the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The UN Convention against Torture obtains 20 ratifications and enters into force on 26 June 1987. The same day, the Council of Europe adopts the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, creating the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to conduct monitoring visits to places of detention.

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) conducts its first visits to Austria, Malta, UK, Türkiye and Denmark.

Costa Rica submits a second draft Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and later the Working Group to draft the OPCAT is established.

The UN General Assembly adopts the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in December. After 35 years, Jean-Jacques Gautier's vision is another step closer to becoming a reality at the international level. The African Commission, with the assistance of the APT, adopts the Robben Island Guidelines. It becomes the first regional instrument for the prohibition and prevention of torture in Africa.

The APT focuses on advocacy with States to ratify the OPCAT and begin establishing their national torture prevention bodies. By December 2003, the OPCAT has three States parties: Albania, Malta and the United Kingdom.

With the ratifications of Honduras and Bolivia in May 2006, the OPCAT obtains 20 ratifications and enters into force. The vision of Jean-Jacques Gautier for an international agreement to prevent torture and ill-treatment in places of detention has become a reality. The OPCAT breaks new ground by establishing a system of regular and unannounced visits to prisons, police cells and all other places of detention by both an international body and by National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs). By December 2006, the OPCAT has 30 States parties and NPMs designated in four countries.

By December 2009, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture has 50 States parties. National Preventive Mechanisms have been designated in 31 countries. On its 20th anniversary, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the APT, bring together key actors in torture prevention to discuss “New Partnerships” at a conference in Strasbourg, France.

The APT opens a regional office for Latin America, based in Panama, to support countries ratify and implement the OPCAT.

Five years after it comes into force, the APT’s Global Forum on the OPCAT gathers over 300 experts and practitioners in the field of torture prevention from around the world to take stock on achievements and identify challenges ahead. Momentum continues to grow as more States ratify the treaty, bringing the total to 61 States parties and 39 countries with National Preventive Mechanisms. The APT continues its global advocacy efforts for OPCAT ratification.

The APT celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Jean-Jacques Gautier (1912-1986), and inaugurates its new headquarters in Geneva. “Jean-Jacques Gautier was, and his legacy remains, a leading light in the global fight to relegate torture to history, where it belongs,” says Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The APT’s many years of lobbying and work in Rwanda pays off when the country ratifies the OPCAT. By the end of 2015, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture has 80 State parties and National Preventive Mechanisms are designated in 62 countries.

The APT and others celebrate 10 years since the OPCAT entered into force. It offers a moment for reflection. The APT changes its strategic direction towards supporting the implementation of the OPCAT by working directly with National Preventive Mechanisms. Meanwhile, an independent study systematically analyses the effectiveness of torture prevention across 16 countries to find out if it works. It concludes emphatically that torture prevention works. These findings are used to guide the APT’s work.

The APT marks 40 years since it was founded by Jean-Jacques Gautier. At this time, 86 countries have ratified the OPCAT and 65 National Preventive Mechanisms have been established with a mandate to monitor places of detention.

The APT, together with the Anti-Torture Initiative and the Norwegian Center for Human Rights, launch a process to develop international guidelines on investigative interviewing and associated safeguards. The goal is to shift mindsets and practice from coercive interrogation to rapport-based interviewing and investigation-driven policing, reducing the risks of torture and ill-treatment in the process.

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the first regional body to enact Jean-Jacques Gautier’s vision of independent visits to places of detention, celebrates its 30th anniversary. By the end of year, there are 90 States parties to OPCAT, with National Preventive Mechanisms designated in 71 countries.

After four years of consultations and drafting, a process led by the APT, advocacy begins for international support and national implementation of the Méndez Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering.