Annual Report 2025
11

Children

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In Benin, after years of work from OMCT and partners Enfants Solidaires d’Afrique et du Monde (ESAM) and Changement Social Benin (CSB) towards the respect of international standards on juvenile justice, the government adopted a “zero child in detention” policy. We accompanied the drafting of the policy, which should ensure that children are not sent to civil prisons, thus reducing their exposure to torture and ill-treatment.

In Brazil, following submission of alternative reports and in-person advocacy by OMCT and the Office of Legal Advice to Popular Organizations (GAJOP) and CEDECA Ceara, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child made thirteen key recommendations urging the government to enforce the prohibition of torture of children, improve detention conditions and align the juvenile justice system with international standards to eradicate violence and torture of children.

Our work on children deprived of liberty started in Chad with our partner the Ligue Tchadienne des Droits de l’Homme (LTDH). First monitoring visits of child detention centers documented deplorable detention conditions, lack of beds, ventilation, food and access to health services, and pre-trial detention lasting several years. First awareness-raising trainings on the prohibition of torture of children and detention conditions were provided to penitentiary staff.

In Honduras, our member Centro de Prevención, Tratamiento y Rehabilitación de Víctimas de Tortura documented 7 cases of children torture through inspection visit of child detention. Following direct advocacy and collaboration with the Juvenile Justice Agency (INAMI), its director announced the establishment of complaint boxes for children located in prison, thus implementing a recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

In Nepal, monitoring visits of our local partner Advocacy Forum Nepal to Child Correctional Homes allowed the documentation of systemic violations including torture, overcrowding and lack of legal representation for children. This was gathered in the publication of an "Analysis of Law, Practice, and Challenges in the Juvenile Justice System in Nepal, which successfully informed discussions with key stakeholders towards reducing these violations.

In the Philippines, legal assistance provided to children detained led to the release and diversion outside of the justice system of 10 children. The monitoring of child detention allowed for the documentation of eight cases of torture of children in detention or by the police and shed light on inhuman detention conditions, including lack of beddings or food, dirtiness and overcrowding.

In Togo, our partner, the Collectif des Associations pour la lutte contre l’Impunité au Togo (CACIT), have conducted more than 40 visits to children detention places, provided legal assistance to 26 children and documented four allegations of torture and ill-treatment, during arrest and in custody. They also shed light on extended periods of pre-trial detention and dire detention conditions in children’s areas of civil prisons.

OMCT and Lebanese partners advanced child-rights advocacy for Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review. At the November 2025 Pre-Session, a 14-year-old Manara Network representative shared a powerful first-hand perspective as a panelist.

Global Torture Index: Realities of the Torture of Children

Drawing on data from the Global Torture Index, this article shows that torture against children is a widespread and systemic reality, occurring in contexts such as detention, conflict, domestic violence, and repression, with a disproportionate impact on marginalised groups. It highlights structural gaps in prevention, protection, and victim support, while pointing to concrete solutions if states implement international standards and child-centred policies.

Read the article