Lawyers' Intervention at Pretrial Stage Helps to Prevent Torture, Illegal Detention and Other Human Rights Violations: Experiences of Advocacy Forum–Nepal

摘要

This practice note aims to summarize the proven success of a holistic strategy for the prevention of torture developed by Advocacy Forum–Nepal (AF). Through systematic visits to government detention facilities to monitor the status of detainees, giving detainees (especially those from poor, marginalized backgrounds) access to a lawyer and protecting their rights in detention centres, AF aimed to reduce the widespread torture and other ill-treatment in pretrial detention facilities and increase access to justice for all detainees. Detailed statistical analysis of findings during detention visits were shared with stakeholders of the criminal justice system in intra- and inter-sectoral consultation meetings to discuss and address problems existing in detention centres and end the practice of torture in detention. The findings were reported to national and international human rights organizations and expert bodies who issued urgent appeals addressed to the government of Nepal to prevent torture. In addition, detailed reviews of laws and policies were conducted, which in turn fed into advocacy at international, national and local levels. This model has had measurable impact; and is set out here in the hope it will assist other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights practitioners around the world to devise their own effective torture prevention strategy.