{"id":3538,"date":"2021-07-20T07:43:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T07:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/?page_id=3538"},"modified":"2026-02-10T11:00:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T11:00:05","slug":"optional-protocol-to-the-convention-against-torture-opcat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/how-to-monitor-human-rights-2\/optional-protocol-to-the-convention-against-torture-opcat\/","title":{"rendered":"Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/ProfessionalInterest\/Pages\/OPCAT.aspx\">OPCAT<\/a> is a supplementary treaty to <a href=\"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/un-treaty\/cat\/\">the United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT<\/a>).\u00a0 The UK ratified (agreed to follow) the OPCAT in 2003.<\/p>\n<p>The OPCAT established the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/treaty-bodies\/spt#:~:text=The%20Subcommittee%20on%20Prevention%20of,of%20torture%20and%20ill%20treatment.\">SPT<\/a>). The primary aim of the SPT, which consists of 25 independent and impartial experts, is to prevent torture and ill-treatment. The SPT visits places where people are deprived of their liberty in order to examine conditions of detention. It also helps States to set up national bodies to monitor places of detention and prevent torture and ill-treatment. These bodies are known as National Preventive Mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>By ratifying the OPCAT, the UK agrees to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Allow members of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/treaty-bodies\/spt#:~:text=The%20Subcommittee%20on%20Prevention%20of,of%20torture%20and%20ill%20treatment.\">SPT<\/a> to visit places where people are arrested, imprisoned or detained \u2013 such as police stations, prisons (military and civilian), immigration detention centres, and mental health and social care institutions<\/li>\n<li>Establish a National Preventive Mechanism to independently monitor the detention and imprisonment of people in the UK<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The UK set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalpreventivemechanism.org.uk\/\">National Preventive Mechanism<\/a> in 2009.<\/p>\n<h2>How does the SPT conduct its monitoring?<\/h2>\n<p>The SPT gathers information by conducting country visits. During these visits, members of the SPT have unrestricted access to meet with anyone who can provide relevant information about conditions of detention, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>People who are deprived of their liberty<\/li>\n<li>Government officials<\/li>\n<li>Members of the National Preventive Mechanism<\/li>\n<li>Representatives of national human rights institutions<\/li>\n<li>Non-governmental organisations<\/li>\n<li>Custodial staff<\/li>\n<li>Lawyers<\/li>\n<li>Doctors<\/li>\n<li>Family members of detainees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At the end of its visit, the SPT produces two reports containing observations and recommendations. One report is for the UK Government and the other for the National Preventive Mechanism. \u00a0Both reports are confidential, but the UK Government and the National Preventive Mechanism may choose to publish them.<\/p>\n<p>The UK Government then has six months to provide a written response to the SPT, outlining its progress in implementing the recommendations. The UK Government\u2019s response to the SPT is confidential, although the UK Government may choose to publish its report.<\/p>\n<p>If the UK Government fails to co-operate during the SPT visit, or fails to implement the SPT\u2019s recommendations, the SPT can make its report public, or request that the <a href=\"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/un-treaty\/cat\/\">Committee against Torture<\/a> make a public statement.<\/p>\n<p>The UK\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalpreventivemechanism.org.uk\/\">National Preventive Mechanism<\/a> supports the UK Government by providing advice on how to comply with the SPT\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n<h2>Useful resources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">The\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">SPT visit<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">ed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">\u00a0the UK\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">in September 2019<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\"> Following th<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">e visit<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">it<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">\u00a0produced two reports \u2013\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeRest CommentHighlightRest SCXW186696623 BCX8\">one\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightPipeRest SCXW186696623 BCX8\">for the <a href=\"https:\/\/tbinternet.ohchr.org\/_layouts\/15\/treatybodyexternal\/Download.aspx?symbolno=CAT%2FOP%2FGBR%2FRONPM%2F1&amp;Lang=en\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW186696623 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeRest CommentHighlightRest SCXW186696623 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">National Preventive Mechanism<\/span><\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW186696623 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW186696623 BCX8\">(<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW186696623 BCX8\">December 2020<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed CommentHighlightRest GrammarErrorHighlight SCXW186696623 BCX8\">)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">and one for the\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW186696623 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/tbinternet.ohchr.org\/_layouts\/15\/treatybodyexternal\/Download.aspx?symbolno=CAT%2FOP%2FGBR%2FROSP%2F1&amp;Lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW186696623 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">UK Government<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">(<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">May 2021<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">)<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186696623 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW235662735 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeHovered CommentHighlightHovered SCXW235662735 BCX8\">The<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightHovered SCXW235662735 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW235662735 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.websitebuilder.service.justice.gov.uk\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2023\/07\/UK-NPM-Response-to-SPT-Report_08122020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW235662735 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightHovered SCXW235662735 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">National Preventive Mechanism published<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightHovered SCXW235662735 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0a response to its<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightHovered SCXW235662735 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0SPT report in<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightHovered SCXW235662735 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0December 2020<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW208052537 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW208052537 BCX8\">The UK Government published<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW208052537 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW208052537 BCX8\">a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW208052537 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW208052537 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/united-nations-subcommittee-on-the-prevention-of-torture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW208052537 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeRest CommentHighlightRest SCXW208052537 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">response to<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW208052537 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW208052537 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">its SPT report in<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW208052537 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW208052537 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">June<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW208052537 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a02021<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW43108528 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW43108528 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW43108528 BCX8\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW43108528 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.websitebuilder.service.justice.gov.uk\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2023\/07\/UK-NPM-response-to-UN-treaty-body-UK-visit-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW43108528 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW43108528 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW43108528 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">National Preventive Mechanism<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW43108528 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW43108528 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW43108528 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0issued a report on the G<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW43108528 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW43108528 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW43108528 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">overnment\u2019s response\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW43108528 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW43108528 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW43108528 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">in June 2021<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW239424999 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeHovered CommentHighlightHovered SCXW239424999 BCX8\">Read\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightPipeHovered SCXW239424999 BCX8\">t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW239424999 BCX8\">he<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW239424999 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW239424999 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/tbinternet.ohchr.org\/_layouts\/15\/treatybodyexternal\/TBSearch.aspx?Lang=en&amp;TreatyID=12&amp;DocTypeID=27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW239424999 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW239424999 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">SPT\u2019s Annual Reports<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW145130089 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145130089 BCX8\">Read t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145130089 BCX8\">he\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW145130089 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpreventivemechanism.org.uk\/annual-reports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW145130089 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145130089 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">annual reports of the UK\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145130089 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">National Preventive Mechanism<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The OPCAT is a supplementary treaty to the United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT).\u00a0 The UK ratified (agreed to follow) the OPCAT in 2003. The OPCAT established the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT). The primary aim of the SPT, which consists of 25 independent and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3541,"parent":1964,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3538","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3538"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11395,"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3538\/revisions\/11395"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrightstracker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}