Publications

Enforced disappearance has been used as a tool of oppression all over the world in the context of internal armed conflicts; its use in Africa can be traced back to colonial times, when many colonial governments disappeared freedom fighters. Today, many African States use enforced disappearance in a range of contexts against different groups of people, from human rights defenders to ethnic minorities, migrants and opposition leaders. This report considers the practice of enforced disappearance in Africa, exploring the contexts in which it takes place, the existing international and regional legal and policy frameworks in place to prevent and respond to enforced disappearances, and the gaps in those frameworks that prevent the eradication of enforced disappearance in Africa, as well as making a set of recommendations to the relevant bodies on how to eliminate the practice on the continent. REDRESS would like to express its gratitude to the law firm Linklaters for providing invaluable pro bono support on research, drafting and editing of the report. We further thank our partners, Lawyers for Justice in Libya, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies, and the MENA Rights Group, for their important input in exploring the scope of enforced disappearances in Libya, Zimbabwe, Sudan, and Algeria.

In this Bulletin, we draw attention to a number of successes that have been seen in the realm of accountability for perpetrators of torture, such as the significant amendments made to the original bill form of the Overseas Operations Act in the UK and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus launched in Belarus. Also highlighted are some important wins in the area of torture and women's rights, and we outline a number of projects we will be carrying out under our Solidarity programme, including a set of Practice Notes and other training materials on Holistic Strategic Litigation Against Torture. The Bulletin also provides the latest updates on our advocacy campaigns, publications, and policy work in recent months.

Launched one year ago on 6 July 2020, the UK’s Global Human Rights Sanctions regime gave the UK Foreign Secretary the ability to sanction persons implicated in human rights abuses anywhere across the globe. The first anniversary of the UK Global Human Rights Sanctions regime provides an opportunity to examine how the UK government has used its new tool for tackling human rights abuses, as detailed in this paper. A data-driven analysis shows 78 designations arising from 11 situations of human rights violations. There was a notable skew towards designations for violations of the right to life and prohibition on torture, with fewer designations for forced labour. Six entities were sanctioned, including military holding companies and public security bureaus. Individuals designated ranged from politicians and military officials to family members of perpetrators and prison doctors.

Our Holistic Strategic Litigation Training Modules are a series of Guidance Notes and accompanying pre-designed PowerPoint presentations to support practitioners delivering trainings on strategic litigation against torture, as well as workshop participants. The PowerPoint presentations are editable so that you can tailor them to your specific needs. Modules can be combined, shortened, or supplemented with your own knowledge. They include substantive guidance and further sources of information on the covered topic, as well as key points for practitioners to highlight during each module. They are designed to be usable in an in-person or an online setting. Each module is available in English; a small number are also available in French and Arabic. To download a training module, see the 'Downloads' menu and click on the module or presentation you would like to download.

This practice note provides an overview of the psychological aspects of working with child victims of trauma in strategic litigation. It is designed to help inform civil society organisations and legal practitioners that work on human rights litigation and other forms of public interest litigation involving child victims of torture, sexual abuse, or other forms of trauma. It provides a starting point for lawyers in ensuring they have a basic understanding of the key psychological considerations in such cases, to assist them in instructing and working alongside such experts. It gives an overview of the psychological effects of torture, sexual abuse and other forms of trauma as they particularly relate to children, and their impact on children’s memories. It also outlines important considerations when evidence is being taken from child victims of trauma and on obtaining medico-legal reports.

This practice note explains what holistic strategic litigation is, and how to do it in the context of enforced disappearances in Africa. It makes suggestions based on academic commentaries, research reports, and practical experience. It will be useful for those new to strategic litigation, to find out more about it, and also for more experienced practitioners, to encourage reflection on how they do it. REDRESS would like to thank the Matrix Causes Fund and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture for their generous support to this project.

This practice note provides guidance for individuals and organisations litigating before regional and international human rights treaty bodies and courts on how to facilitate the implementation of their decisions and judgements. It includes advice and examples on not only legal strategy and how to ensure victims’ involvement, but also on working with local communities, communications, and advocacy. Suggestions are also provided on staffing and fundraising for these activities in an organisation. While the guidance in primarily for those engaging in regional or international litigation, it is also relevant for cases before national courts relating to torture. REDRESS would like to thank the Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC) of the University of Bristol Law School, the Matrix Causes Fund and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture for their generous support for this project.

This practice note shares the experience of REDRESS and Trauma Treatment International (TTI) and is intended to assist clinicians, such as physicians and clinical psychologists, to undertake an assessment and elaborate reports that are compliant with the United Nations Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol). REDRESS and TTI would like to thank the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and the Matrix Causes Fund for their generous support of this project.