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Professor Malcolm Evans addresses UN General Assembly on prevention of torture

Professor Malcolm Evans, OBE

Professor Malcolm Evans, OBE

23 October 2013

Professor Malcolm Evans OBE, made his annual address as Chair of the largest international torture-prevention body — the United Nations [UN] Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) in New York this week [22 October].

Professor Malcolm Evans OBE, made his annual address as Chair of the largest international torture-prevention body — the United Nations [UN] Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) in New York this week [22 October].

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) is a treaty body comprising 25 independent experts. It has a purely preventive mandate focused on an innovative, sustained and proactive approach to the prevention of torture and ill treatment.  

In his presentation of the SPT Annual Report to the General Assembly Professor Evans presented the key developments during 2012, namely, an increase in the number of visits undertaken by the SPT, the inauguration of NPM advisory visits, and the first grants being made from the Special Fund of the OPCAT.

Professor Evans said: “As a result of the OPCAT and the work of the SPT, systems for regular visiting to places of detention as part of an international system of torture prevention is now a reality in over a quarter of all states within the international community."

Malcolm Evans is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Bristol Law School and has served as Head of the School of Law (2003-2005) and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law (2005-2009). Professor Evans is a renowned authority in the field of international law of the sea and international human rights protection, particularly torture and torture prevention and freedom of religion or belief. In 2009, he was elected member of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and in 2010 elected as Chairperson. 

Learn more about the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture on the website.

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