Association for the Prevention of Torture

EU Legislative Interests

The APT works with and on the European Commission’s Directorate-General International Partnerships, and the European Parliament’s policies and activities framing and contributing to the fight against torture, within and outside the EU. The APT follows the development and implementation of policies related to procedural and legal safeguards at EU level (Stockholm Programme), the development and implementation of policies related to the fight against torture at external level (EU Guidelines on torture), and the wider work of the EU on torture, internally and externally, including in multilateral fora (UN Human Rights Council, General Assembly, Crime Congress, etc.). In particular, we work for increased protection of citizens in the criminal justice system, especially during the first hours of detention (with the Méndez Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering) and for groups in situations of vulnerability (e.g. women and LGBTIQ+ persons). The APT also follows and supports the advocacy related to the prohibition of trade in the tools of torture.

Communication Activities

The APT communicates about its and partners' work on the prevention of torture in the world (including sometimes in relation to EU policies) through its website and social media. This includes pages dedicated to News & Blogs, podcasts and videos. APT also implements communication campaigns every year in relation to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the International Human Rights Day, and others in relation to groups at heightened risks of torture and ill-treatment, justice and detention issues, etc.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

The APT has consultative status with the: - United Nations Economic and Social Council - Organisation of American States - Council of Europe - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights - Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie We are also a member of the following networks: - United Against Torture Consortium - Human Right and Democracy Network (Brussels) - International Detention Coalition - SOS Torture Network - Swiss NGO Platform for Human Rights

Organisation Members

Members of the APT are individuals (mostly Swiss citizens) with interest in our work on torture prevention. The list is not available on our website, but can be shared by email upon request.

Additional Information

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