2182nd Meeting, 82nd Session, Committee Against…

The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) is a new kind of treaty body in the United Nations human rights system. It has a preventive mandate focused on a proactive approach to preventing torture and ill treatment.

States that ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) give the SPT the right to visit their places of detention and examine the treatment of people held there.

The Protocol also obliges States to set up independent National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) to examine the treatment of people in detention, make recommendations to government authorities to strengthen protection against torture and comment on existing or proposed legislation. The SPT assists and advises NPMs in their work.