Switzerland supports Human Rights Commission

SWISS Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni and the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Radhika Coomaraswamy signed an agreement providing Rs. 4 million to support a programme to combat torture in places of detention.

The Human Rights Commission declared last year a zero tolerance policy on any acts of torture, degrading, cruel and inhuman treatment. The Commission also set up a special Torture Prevention and Monitoring Unit in order to translate its policy into action.

Under this programme the Human Rights Commission pro-actively and reactively deals with the issue of torture in order to prevent and monitor such incidents through the implementation of a comprehensive protection mechanism with the participation of relevant stakeholders and through educational and awareness raising training programmes.

The Torture Prevention and Monitoring Unit operates a 24-hour desk, with hotline facilities, to receive complaints relating to incidents of torture and commence investigations immediately. The Unit also undertakes surprise visits to places of detention to ensure torture prevention.

In addition a field research will be commissioned to find out the root-causes. It is one of the main aims of the Human Rights Commission to establish stronger institutions and procedures for human rights protection, and to create a culture of human rights awareness and accountability.

Switzerland last year supported a programme of the Human Rights Commission to combat torture through monitoring of places of detention.