Joint conference on "Litigation before the UN Committee against Torture: strengthening this important tool against torture", 15 April 2013 in Washington D.C.

Cosponsored byAmerican University Washington College of Law

and the WorldOrganisation Against Torture

April 15, 2013(8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

AmericanUniversity Washington College of Law

4801Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Room 603, Washington, D.C.

Overview: Article 22 ofthe Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment setsforth the Committee against Torture’s individual complaints procedure. UnderArticle 22, the Committee considers petitions (“communications”) from or onbehalf of alleged victims of a violation of a Convention provision(s) by aState Party that has recognized the Committee’s competence to receive andconsider communications (currently, 65 of the 153 State Parties to theConvention have done so). Since the establishment of this procedure, theCommittee has decided numerous cases, giving a clear response to acts oftorture committed around the world. This conference will gather worldwideexperts, including UN experts, lawyers, NGOs representatives, scholars andpractitioners, to discuss the Committee’s practice, challenges and bestpractices moving forward to better protect and assist victims of torture.
8:30 – 9:00 Registration

9:00 – 9:20

Opening Remarks

JoãoVale de Almeida, European Union Ambassador to the United States (tbc)
Claudio Grossman, Dean, AmericanUniversity Washington College of Law and Chairperson, UN Committee againstTorture

Gerald Staberock, Secretary-Generalof the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)

9:30–11:00

Panel I: The Use of Interim Measures by the Committee against Torture:Towards a Comprehensive Instrument for the Protection of Victims and Witnessesin Torture Cases

Worldwide, victims and witnesses in cases of tortureface threats and great challenges when denouncing cases of torture atnational and international levels. Protection measures are crucial for victimsto present cases. Participants will discuss how to further strengthen theprotection of victims alleging violation(s) of Convention provision(s) beforethe Committee against Torture.

Moderator: Helene Legeay, Middle Eastand North Africa programme manager

Panelists:

Carla Ferstman, Director of Redress

Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, ProfessorialLecturer in Residence and Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights andHumanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law

11:10-12:30

Panel II: The Roleof the Committee against Torture in Providing Full and Adequate Reparation toVictims

International human rights law provides that victimsof human rights violations are entitled to full and adequate reparation,including compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, satisfaction andguarantees of non-repetition. General Comment 3 of the Committee againstTorture explains and clarifies the fundamental State Party obligation underarticle 14 of the Convention.

Participants will analyze the nature of thereparations required by the Committee against Torture and challenges towardscomprehensive redress.

Moderator: ClaudioGrossman, Dean, American University Washington College ofLaw and Chairperson, UN Committee against Torture

Panelists:

Ibrahima Kane, AdvocacyDirector, Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA)

OctavioAmezcua, Mexican Commission for the Defenseand Promotion of Human Rights

12:30– 1:45

Lunch

2:00– 3:45

Panel III:Challenges in the Implementation of the Decisions of the Committee againstTorture

This session will share best practices and identify obstaclesto seeking full implementation of the Committee’s decisions, drawing upon theexperiences of various stakeholders (e.g., OHCHR, practitioners, State partiesand victims).

Moderator: GeraldStaberock, Secretary-General of the WorldOrganization Against Torture (OMCT)

Panelists:

Karina Moskalenko, Russian Human Rights Lawyer

Christian De Vos, AdvocacyOfficer, Open Society Justice Initiative

ElsyChemurgor Sainna, International Commission of Jurists, Kenya

4:00– 5:30

Panel IV: Challenges to Proving Cases of Torture before the Committee againstTorture

The Committee against Torture considerscommunications in the light of all information made available to it and may freelyassess the facts based upon the full set of circumstances. How can victims/practitioners make sure toadequately present their allegations? What types of proof are persuasive?What is sufficient to shift the burden of proof? Panelists will discuss thesequestions and the interesting variation of the burden of proof throughout thecomplaints procedure.

Moderator: Gabriela Echeverria,Visiting Scholar, Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law School

Panelists:

Mario Lopez Garelli,SeniorHuman Rights Specialist at the Inter-American Commission on HumanRights

Hari Phuyal, Advocacy Forum Nepal

Juan E. Méndez, Visiting Professorof Law, American University Washington College of Law and UN SpecialRapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment orPunishment

5:30

Concluding Remarks

Claudio Grossman, Dean, American University Washington College of Law and Chairperson,UN Committee against Torture

Reception

Registration is free but required – please go to www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration.

CLE accreditation will be applied for as requested – 6credits - CLE Registration - $330

For furtherinformation, contact: Office of Special Events & ContinuingLegal Education, 202.274.4075 or secle@wcl.american.edu.

Thisconference is being held with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Oak Foundation.Its content is of the soleresponsibility of OMCT and cannotbe considered as reflectingthe position of its supporting institutions.