European Union (EU): REPORT: EU-NGO Human Rights Forum: United Against All Forms of Torture

United against all forms of torture:

Applying a cross-cutting perspective to prevent, prohibit and redress torture globally

18^th EU-NGO Human Rights Forum, Brussels, 1-2 December 2016

This report aims to capture the discussions and outline the recommendations from the 2016 EU-NGO Human Rights Forum entitled ‘United against all forms of torture: Applying a cross-cutting perspective to prevent, prohibit and redress torture globally’, co-organised by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Brussels-based Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), which gathers over 50 NGOs operating at the EU level in the broader areas of human rights, democracy and peace including the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

The Forum took place at a key moment for global engagement against torture and ill-treatment. 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), the 32nd anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention Against Torture (UN CAT) and the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Addressing torture and ill-treatment remains as urgent as ever against the backdrop of the global and European migration crises, counter-terrorism efforts and the shrinking space for independent civil society, in particular the repression of human rights defenders (HRDs).

The report summarises the diverse discussions held during the Forum and includes concrete recommendations for follow up action for the European Union (EU) and civil society in 2017 and beyond. In presenting the exchanges at the Forum, all views expressed with regard to the situation within individual countries are recounted as presented by the participants and do not reflect the views of individual HRDN members nor the network as a whole.

In line with EU and member state commitments in the Treaty of Lisbon and the Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, HRDN’s vision is that human rights and democracy are placed at the heart of the EU’s internal and external policy agenda. This vision should manifest itself in an EU which effectively protects human rights at home and is a force for positive change in the world. In pursuit of this vision, HRDN aims to influence EU and EU member states’ foreign and domestic policies and the programming of their funding instruments to promote democracy, human rights and peace.

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) worked on the preparation of the Forum together with a core group of the HRDN organisations including the HRDN co-chairs, Amnesty International (AI), the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT).

• EU NGO Forum Report: United Against all forms of torture
• EU-NGO Forum Executive Summary: United Against All Forms of Torture