27 November 2014
27-28.11.2014, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
OPCAT FORUM OF SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE
On 27 and 28 November 2014 in Belgrade, the Ombudsman Mr. Ixhet Memeti and a representative from the National Preventive Mechanism, Ms. Anica Tomsic-Stojkovska, participated in the OPCAT Forum of South-eastern Europe.
The topic of the Forum was the preventive approach in succumbing torture, and the fight with the impunity. Among the guests during the opening session was Mr. Malcolm Evans, Chairperson of the Subcommittee of the United Nations for prevention against torture and the Ombudsman of Serbia, Mr. Sasha Jankovic.
Representatives from the Subcommittee of the UN for prevention against torture, the European Committee for prevention from torture, the members of the NPM network of South-eastern Europe, preventive mechanisms of Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Azerbaijan and representatives from the civil sector of Russia took participation in the Forum.
Among other topics was the manner of monitoring the implementation of the given recommendations, the need for independence and autonomy of the NPMs, the role of the forensics in preventive visits, as well as the strengthening of the public awareness in prohibition of torture.
The second day of the Forum continued with a Conference on protection from torture and other forms of inhuman treatment, stressing the role of the Parliament and the other judicial bodies in prevention and protection from torture.
Various sessions were part of the Conference. The session dedicated to prevention from inhuman treatment in prisons was moderated by Ms. Anica Tomsic-Stojkovska from the Macedonian National Preventive Mechanism. The closure of the session issued conclusions among which the need to build partnerships with aim for prevention, securing protection of the employees in places of deprivation of liberty where there are complaints about inhuman treatment towards prisoners, the need for efficient research of such acts, and a maximum implementation of the national and international framework of rights for persons deprived of liberty.