Expressing deep concern about the continued prevalence of torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in many states in Africa and the
conviction to urgently address the challenge in all its dimensions;
Reiterating that acts of torture constitutes a horrendous infringement on human
dignity and its persistence is attributable to many factors, notably the noncriminalization of acts of torture in many African States;
Further reiterating that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment must be condemned as a denial of the purposes of the African Charter
on Human and Peoples’ Rights and as a violation of human rights and fundamental
freedoms proclaimed in the Robben Island Guidelines, the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) and other international
human rights treaties;
Mindful of the key role played by the African Commission and its Committee for the
PrJevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA);
Welcoming the growing partnerships between governments, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and civil society in the implementation of the Robben Island
Guidelines;
Commending the persistent efforts and critical role of National Human Rights
Institutions, the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI)
and civil society organizations working to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment and to alleviate the suffering of victims;
Further commending the practical measures that have been taken by some States
Parties to criminalize torture in their respective jurisdictions;
1. Reaffirm that freedom from torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right, which protects
the inherent dignity and integrity of the person, and that no-one shall be
subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
2. Unreservedly condemn the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment, in any context and at any time. Torture
must remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can
never be justified.
3. Deplore the use of all methods of extreme intimidation such as prolonged
sleep deprivation, isolation and interrogation or the use of degrading or
painful procedures such as sexual abuse, electric shocks, abuse of
psychotropic drugs and other means of inducing terror, and inhumane means
that compromise the physical, psychosocial or sexual integrity of persons.