May 11, 2008: OMCT African Regional Seminar and the Maputo Declaration

2008:

Addressing the economic, social and cultural root causes of violence

African Human Rights NGOs meeting in Maputo to address the economic, social and cultural root causes of torture call on Governments to make Africa a torture-free continent

On 11 May of this year, representatives of 18 African Human Rights NGOs meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, to participate in the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) African regional seminar on the economic, social and cultural root causes of torture drafted and adopted the Maputo Declaration Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In this document, the seminar participants - representing organisations from Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe - express their extreme concern at the erosion of the absolute prohibition against torture and urge concerted action at both national and international levels to bring an end to this practice.

Please see the attached document for more detailed information on the African Regional Seminar. If you are unable to open this document, please inform us by return e-mail.