Publications

Namibia is in the process of reviewing its criminal law framework with a view to incorporating the crime of torture in its domestic legislation in accordance with its international obligations. The “Prevention and Combating Torture bill”, which will address this issue, is currently pending in Namibia. In this report, REDRESS provides comments regarding the draft bill to its authors, the Namibian Law Reform and Development Commission. Our comments draw on our recent analysis of anti-torture legislative frameworks in seven African countries, including Namibia, which form the basis of our report “Legal Frameworks to Prevent Torture in Africa”.

This report presents an in-depth assessment of the anti-torture legal frameworks in place in seven countries in South and West Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The report identifies best practices, shortcomings and the key components of an effective anti-torture legislative framework, particularly in light of international and regional standards, including the UNCAT and the Robben Island Guidelines. This report forms part of our regional project, “Anti-Torture Legislative Frameworks: Pan-African Strategies for Adoption and Implementation”.

This report sets out the main areas of discussion of an expert consultation roundtable organised by REDRESS with a range of stakeholders in Abuja, Nigeria, regarding the draft anti-torture law currently under review in the country. Participants included representatives of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, National Human Rights Commission, the Bar Association, civil society organisations, and other expert organisations. Following previous workshops in Nigeria organised by the Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC) of the University of Bristol in 2014 and 2015, during which earlier drafts of the anti-torture Bill were discussed, this workshop formed part of REDRESS’ 10-month project with the HRIC regarding anti-torture legislation in a number of states in Africa. 

This report documents the proceedings of an expert conference organised by REDRESS and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 8 - 9 September 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa. This conference brought together practitioners, lawyers, prosecutors and civil society actors from a number of African countries to explore methods of strengthening victims’ participation in criminal law proceedings. The discussion was informed by the publication of REDRESS recent report on victim participation in domestic criminal proceedings in a variety of countries worldwide.

On 25 November 2015, REDRESS and partner organisations made a submission to the Secretariat of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region. The submission describes how far Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have worked against sexual violence against women and girls and outlines areas for improvement. These three countries together with eight other African countries signed a joint declaration to prevent sexual violence, end impunity and provide support to victims (known as the Kampala Declaration). The implementation of this declaration will be reviewed in December 2015. Our submission aims to provide input to that review.  

REDRESS submitted written evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Committee is looking into the UK’s practice and policy concerning prevention of sexual violence in conflict. The submission emphasises victims' needs of holistic support services. It also calls for the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence in conflict at the national international levels, including abuses committed by peacekeeping troops. In 2014, REDRESS participated in the expert meetings at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict held in London and was also part of the expert group providing input into the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, which aims to support more effective investigations, prosecutions and justice for victims.

REDRESS' submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Sudan focuses on developments since 2011, and the urgent need to carry out thorough reforms of Sudan’s legal and institutional framework and practice to ensure the effective prohibition of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This submission is based on our extensive work on torture in the region, including representing and assisting individual survivors of torture in proceedings before national, regional and international bodies, and advocating for legislative and institutional reforms.

This report, authored in partnership with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), provides a detailed study of domestic practice of victim participation in criminal law proceedings. It analyses victims’ rights to engage in criminal proceedings and in particular the extent to which a range of domestic jurisdictions provide victims with rights to play an active role. Such rights may include the right to launch proceedings, to challenge decisions not to prosecute, and to make statements in court. The aim of this report is to support the efforts of states to develop and put in place a framework for victim participation in the context of investigating and prosecuting international crimes. This report aims to be a useful reference for actors in domestic systems engaged in wider discussions on victims’ rights.