National Agency meets Brazilian National Committee to Prevent and Combat Torture

Wiesbaden/Berlin - Klaus Lange-Lehngut, head of the Federal Agency for the Prevention of Torture, met today with a delegation from the Brazilian National Committee to Prevent and Combat Torture, established in 2013, at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an exchange of experiences. Mr Lange-Lehngut welcomed this opportunity and stressed that “the National Agency is happy to share its experience with our colleagues from Brazil and is available to offer further support”.

Following an invitation by the European Commission, the Brazilian Committee is gathering information on torture prevention and will also visit several prisons in the scope of its stay. In 2013, Brazil established a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) as well as the National Committee to Prevent and Combat Torture. While the NPM conducts inspection visits, the National Committee is tasked with following up legislative proposals and managing international cooperation in the area of torture prevention.

The National Agency for the Prevention of Torture consists of the Federal Agency and the Joint Commission of the States. It has been in office since May 2009, after the Federal Republic of Germany ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN-Anti-Torture-Convention. It shall prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment through regular visits to places of detention. There are approximately13.000 such places nationwide. To achieve its aim, the National Agency shall control the treatment of persons placed in detention and make recommendations.

 Contact:

Jennifer Bartelt / Susanne Schuster, Tel.: +49 (611) 1602228-18 / 24, Fax: +49 (611) 1602228-29, E-mail: info@nationale-stelle.de