Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General
Assembly Resolution 57/200 of 18 December 2002
entry into force 22 June 2006
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Protocol,
Reaffirming that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are prohibited and
constitute serious violations of human rights,
Convinced that further measures are necessary to achieve the purposes of the Convention against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) and
to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment,
Recalling that articles 2 and 16 of the Convention oblige each State Party to take effective measures to prevent
acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in any territory under its
jurisdiction,
Recognizing that States have the primary responsibility for implementing those articles, that strengthening the
protection of people deprived of their liberty and the full respect for their human rights is a common
responsibility shared by all and that international implementing bodies complement and strengthen national
measures,
Recalling that the effective prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment requires education and a combination of various legislative, administrative, judicial and other
measures,
Recalling also that the World Conference on Human Rights firmly declared that efforts to eradicate torture
should first and foremost be concentrated on prevention and called for the adoption of an optional protocol to
the Convention, intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits to places of detention,
Convinced that the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment can be strengthened by non-judicial means of a preventive nature, based
on regular visits to places of detention,
Have agreed as follows:
Part I: General principles
Article 1
The objective of the present Protocol is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken by
independent international and national bodies to places where people are deprived of their liberty, in
order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 2
1. A Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment of the Committee against Torture (hereinafter referred to as the Subcommittee on
Prevention) shall be established and shall carry out the functions laid down in the present Protocol.
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