Prevention of Torture Seminar

Mozambique is a state member of the Convention against Torture (CAT) since 1999 and it has recently ratified the Optional Protocol to CAT. Under CAT, state members are obliged to combat and prevent torture as well as redress victims of torture and regularly report to monitoring mechanisms. Article 10 of the Convention specifically states that "Each State Party shall ensure that education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment." The Legal Training Centre organises a workshop on the prevention of torture in Mozambique, in collaboration with REFORMAR - Research for Mozambique and the ACJR, on 10 and 11 October. The workshop aims at debating measures in place to prevent torture in the country as well as to enhance knowledge on addressing torture and redress victims. Officials from the Criminal Investigative Police Service (Serviço Nacional Investigação Criminal, SERNIC), National Penitentiary Service (Serviço Nacional Penitenciário, SERNAP), prosecutors and magistrates, as well as lawyers of the Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados de Moçambique, OAM) and paralegals of the Legal Aid Institute (Instituto Patrocinio Assistência Jurídica e Judiciaria, IPAJ) will attend the event. The Human Rights League and the Human Rights National Commission as well as the Forensic Service will attend the event and share developments and challenges on addressing torture in Mozambique.