Global Torture Index 2026 Edition: A Persistent Gap Between Standards and Reality

Released on the eve of the 26 June, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Index reveals a persistent failure to ensure victims' rights to redress and reparation, including access to rehabilitation. Across many countries, survivors of torture remain unheard, unrecognised, and excluded from justice, accountability, and reform processes. 

Despite very broad ratification of the UN Convention against Torture (CAT) by the countries measured – except Iran, India, and Malaysia –, and more than half having ratified the Optional Protocol (OPCAT) –   the findings show that basic safeguards against torture and other ill-treatment are frequently absent or only minimally applied in practice across a majority of the countries assessed in the 2nd edition, effectively leaving key international standards with very limited effect on the ground. This is reflected in the fact that half of the countries assessed have not accepted Article 22 of the CAT, not allowing the Committee to receive individual complaints and leaving victims relying solely on their own national justice systems, which may be unwilling or unable to hold perpetrators accountable.

The data point to several alarming trends in 38 countries*:

• The absolute prohibition of torture is being undermined: In 15 countries assessed (39.5%), high-ranking public officials made statements questioning, justifying or otherwise undermining the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. In all but one documented case, no sanctions followed. Countries where such statements were documented include Afghanistan, Belarus, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Russia, all of which are classified as presenting a very high risk of torture and other ill-treatment. 
• Minimal or non-existent rehabilitation services in a vast majority of countries: In 31 countries (81.5% of the countries assessed), state-run rehabilitation programmes and services for torture survivors are minimal or virtually non-existent, signalling heavy reliance on NGOs, international organisations, or private actors for specialised rehabilitation, including psychological, medical, and social support.
• Common use of unofficial detention places: Nearly half of the countries assessed (18 countries) reported that improvised or informal places of deprivation of liberty are used often or very often to hold apprehended persons. 
• Core safeguards against torture are routinely absent: Almost two thirds of countries assessed (25 countries) reported the regular use of incommunicado detention. Access to a lawyer during the first hours of arrest remains limited in many jurisdictions, despite being one of the most important safeguards against torture and other ill-treatment. 
• Torture continues to be used to obtain confessions: In 28 countries (73.7% of the countries assessed), torture or other forms of ill-treatment were reported to be used regularly during interrogations to extract confessions or information.
• Victims are prevented from accessing complaints mechanisms: In almost four out of five countries assessed (30 countries), victims attempting to lodge complaints of torture or other ill-treatment are frequently discouraged from pursuing them through threats or other forms of dissuasion or intimidation.
• Reports of solitary confinement of children: In 23 countries (60.5% of the countries assessed), the use of solitary confinement of children deprived of liberty is reported as occurring in places of detention despite prohibition under international standards. 
• Right to peaceful assembly met with lethal force: Over one third of countries assessed (13 countries) reported cases of death of participants in assemblies by law enforcement officials over the last two years. 
• Increase in femicide rates reported in some countries assessed: In 4 countries (10.5% of the countries assessed), femicides are reported to have increased significantly. However, in the majority of countries, data are not systematically or regularly published, or are only available upon request, constraining comparability and monitoring over time.
• Migrants and asylum seekers face heightened risks at borders: Cases of excessive use of force by state security forces against migrants and asylum seekers at borders were reported in 20 countries (52.6% of the countries assessed), including frequent reports in 9 countries (23.7%).
• Forced exile of human rights defenders remains a recurring phenomenon: In a majority of countries assessed (25 countries, 65.7%), cases of forced exile of human rights defenders are reported, reflecting intimidation and serious restrictions on civic space in a significant number of contexts.
• Searches of NGO premises and home burglaries targeting human rights defenders: In 25 countries (65.7% of the countries assessed), searches of NGO premises and/or home burglaries targeting human rights defenders were reported. 

While the overall picture remains concerning, the Global Torture Index also enables the tracking of positive developments. While some countries continue to fall far behind in meeting their reporting obligations vis-à-vis the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) - Indonesia has not reported to CAT since 2012, while Nepal and Venezuela are respectively more than ten and eight years overdue in submitting their periodic reports -, more than half of the countries assessed (20) have submitted their latest periodic State report to the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) in a timely manner. These figures demonstrate sustained engagement with the UN's monitoring framework. 

Other examples of positive developments include: 

• In 2025, Nigeria adopted new standards and a restorative justice training curriculum and manual to strengthen accountability and human rights protections within the criminal justice system, while promoting restorative justice and non-custodial measures.
• In May 2026, Mexico’s Supreme Court recognised that so-called “conversion therapies” may amount to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
• In 2026, the Local Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) launched an Open Data platform, strengthening transparency and access to public information.
• In March 2026, Kyrgyzstan expanded the definition of torture in its Criminal Code to close a gap that had allowed non-state actors to evade liability. Between 2022 and 2026, the country’s prison population decreased by nearly 30% under the “Justice For All” programme. 
• In Indonesia, various institutions established the Coalition for the Prevention of Torture (KuPP) to advocate for the ratification of the Optional Protocol. 
• In January 2026, Libya established the National Mechanism for the Preparation of Government Reports on Human Rights under the Ministry of Justice. Created pursuant to Cabinet Resolutions No. 532 and 533, the mechanism operates through a three-tiered structure – ministerial, oversight, and technical – and benefits from technical training provided by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

For more country-specific information and assessments, you can access the Global Torture Index country pages or reach out to us at tortureindex@omct.org .

*The analysis below covers the 38 countries included in the 2026 data collection. Hungary – whose data is drawn from the 2025 edition – has not been included in this analysis for harmonisation and accuracy purposes.