Dear fellow freedom from torture advocates,

On the 10th and 11th of November, Geneva, the OPCAT Global Forum will take place. The objectives of this event is for the various OPCAT advocates from all over the world to come together to assess the results and impact of the OPCAT system five years after its entry into force, identify challenges, gaps and ways forward in OPCAT implementation, mobilize, via the OPCAT, a variety of potential actors on torture prevention, review the role of the SPT to reinforce its impact and review the role of the NPMs to reinforce their impact. The principal organizer of the OPCAT Global Forum is the Association for the Prevention of Torture.

Of course the gains of what we have achieved in terms of the instrument’s progress is still quite modest but the Philippine experience in advancing the OPCAT is turning to be among the most dynamic in Asia-Pacific because of our broad front partnerships in combating and preventing torture, The United Against Torture Coalition, the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, our  partner torture survivors, and the strong support from international freedom from torture organizations like the Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims and the Association for the Prevention of Torture. The Senate’s adhesion to the OPCAT is forthcoming and we are making headway in firming-up our collective draft NPM enabling bill.

Our collective efforts to put this good instrument in place here in the Philippines will be shared this coming Thursday the 10th of November and after other presentations on ratification and implementation campaigns from 3 other countries, an open discussion will take place. For those interested to watch our contributions from the Philippines, please visit http://www.apt.ch and go to the aptforum3 at 9:00pm to 11:30pm, Philippine time.

You may also be interested to watch other thematic discussions and plenary schedules. The entire Global Forum will be covered real time and its program will take place from Thursday 10, November 4:00pm to 11:30pm and Friday 11 November 4:00pm to 12:30mn (Philippine time).

Kindly find attached the OPCAT Global Forum program schedule and channel guide. The slot on the Philippine experience is Session 1: Ratification campaigns and implementation advocacy.

Information, documents and briefing papers on the OPCAT Global Forum can be found at http://www.apt.ch.

Feel free to share this learning opportunity with others involved in torture prevention work and preventive visits to places of deprivation of liberty.

My warmest regards and best wishes to all!

Budit Carlos
Advocacy Officer
Office of the Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights Philippines