The election of Commissioner Philile Ntuli as the President of the Network took place on 26 June, coincided with the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, co-signing the collective commitment of African National Preventive Mechanisms to preventing torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment across the continent.

South Africa is honoured by the confidence placed in it by fellow African NPMs and accepts this responsibility with humility and determination. The election reflects a shared commitment to strengthening independent oversight of places of deprivation of liberty, promoting cooperation among African states, and advancing the effective implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).

The newly elected Steering Committee of the Network comprises representatives from South Africa (President), Nigeria (Vice-President), and six members representing Morocco, Rwanda, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania.

Speaking following the election, Commissioner Philile Ntuli, the Commissioner leading South Africa’s NPM, said:
“We accept this mandate not as an accolade but as a responsibility. On a day when the world remembers victims and survivors of torture, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that places of detention across Africa are subject to effective, independent oversight that safeguards the dignity and humanity of every person deprived of liberty.”

The Conference has reaffirmed the importance of African solidarity in preventing torture through peer learning, technical cooperation, institutional independence and constructive engagement with governments, regional institutions and civil society.

As President of the Network, South Africa will work collaboratively with all member National Preventive Mechanisms to strengthen the institutional capacity of the ANNPM, deepen cooperation across the continent, and advance practical measures that improve detention conditions and protect the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.

The SAHRC also expresses its sincere appreciation to the outgoing leadership of the Network, the Secretariat, and the Government and people of Rwanda for hosting a successful conference and for their continued commitment to advancing torture prevention in Africa.

The election of the new Steering Committee marks the beginning of a new chapter for the ANNPM as it continues to build a stronger, more coordinated African voice in the global movement to eradicate torture and all forms of ill-treatment.
Ends
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission