UK welcomes RP intent on UN protocol vs torture

MANILA, Philippines – The British government welcomed yesterday the Philippine government’s intention to accede to the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Cruel and Unusual Punishment (OPCAT).

“The OPCAT is an important element of the international effort to prevent torture,” British Ambassador Peter Beckingham said. “I now look forward to formal steps being made to accede to the Optional Protocol and, more importantly, to the passing of enabling legislation and the establishment of functionally independent national preventative mechanisms that are well-staffed and well-resourced as required by the Protocol.”

Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) executive director Undersecretary Cecilia Quisumbing said on Sunday the Philippine government will soon accede to the OPCAT and that would allow close international monitoring of the country’s detention centers and prisons.

PHRC chairman and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo will issue instructions to concerned agencies to take formal steps to accede to OPCAT.

Ermita is in Geneva, Switzerland as head of the 19-man delegation of 11 line agencies for the UPR session on the Philippines at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The Philippines told the UNHRC that the PHRC will recommend to the President to become State Party to the OPCAT.

The Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman Degrading Treatment or Punishment covers physical, emotional, psychological and mental abusive acts. When committed by agents of the state for the purposes of coercion, it is called torture. Such acts, committed by all other persons, and for any motive fall under the broader term “Cruel, Inhuman Treatment or Punishment.”

The Optional Protocol’s objective 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.

It also requires parties to establish independent national prevention mechanisms, not only to investigate reported incidents but also to put measures in place to prevent torture. – Pia Lee-Brago