Prevention and eradication of torture in the OSCE region: Implementing para. 21 of MC Decision 7/20

In their Ministerial Council Decision 7/20 adopted in 2020, the OSCE participating States have explicitly and unequivocally pledged to uphold the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment and have committed to “take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export, import and use of equipment that has no practical use other than for the purpose of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

During this half-day workshop, delegations of participating States in Vienna will have an opportunity to discuss these new aspects of commitments relating to the prevention of torture and how they can be effectively implemented.

In particular, the workshop will provide a platform for participating States to:

• explore how they can better implement the anti-torture commitments contained in MC Decision 7/20, para. 21;
• develop a deeper understanding of what “equipment that has no practical use other than torture or other ill-treatment” and “equipment that can be readily misused for the purpose of torture or other ill-treatment” may mean in different contexts (e.g. in detention or at peaceful assemblies);
• consider how states can take effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to restrict the use of such equipment – with reference to promising practices that exist at the EU, Council of Europe and global levels.

The event is not open for public participation.

This workshop is part of ODIHR’s ongoing work to assist participating States in the fight against torture.