GENEVA (13 October 2022) – The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will visit Australia from 16 to 27 October to advise and assist the State party in meeting its international commitments to prevent torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

“Our main objective is to assess how the authorities have implemented their obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), including those initiatives about maintaining, designing and setting up one or more visiting bodies to form the National Mechanism for Prevention of Torture in the country,” said Aisha Shujune Muhammad, Head of the Delegation.

“We will also assess the treatment of people deprived of their liberty, and examine the existing protection measures against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” she added.

This is the SPT’s first visit to Australia. The Subcommittee was originally scheduled to visit the country in April 2020, the mission was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More