ACHPR Panel Urges Stronger Action Against Torture Across Africa

Lawyer Imran Darboe © Askanwi

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held a high-level panel discussion on Wednesday, 7th May 2025, focusing on preventing torture and ill-treatment across Africa. The panel was part of the 83rd ordinary session of the ACHPR held in The Gambia. The discussions aimed to explore strategic frameworks, share country-level insights, and strengthen the role of institutions and civil society in combating torture.

Two significant policy documents were highlighted: the ACHPR’s 2022 Strategy Report and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa’s (CPTA) strategic framework. The discussion centred on the use of torture prevention tools by security agents and the ongoing need for education and advocacy. One panellist emphasised the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in raising public awareness and educating law enforcement officials on legal safeguards against torture.

Albab Tesfaye, a panel member, reflected on Rwanda’s 2023 Guidance on Torture Prevention, the CPTA’s broader strategy, and global efforts to curb the trade in tools commonly used for torture. The CPTA Chairperson underscored the importance of standardising police equipment to protect human rights and highlighted the critical role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), citing the Istanbul Protocol as a key international instrument in documenting and preventing torture.

The session was chaired by Imran Darboe, a Gambian lawyer with extensive experience in the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and the Ministry of Justice. He currently works with the Centre for Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), an African international organisation, and volunteers with several Gambian CSOs.

Adding a domestic legal perspective, Mariama Singhateh, Senior State Counsel at The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice, referenced the recently concluded Michael Sang Correa trial in the United States. She recounted chilling testimonies from witnesses detailing the torture methods employed by Correa, including beatings and electrocution. Singhateh emphasized the long-term impact of such abuse, noting the enduring psychological trauma suffered by survivors.

Following the TRRC’s findings and the government’s acceptance of its recommendations, The Gambia introduced the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Bill. The bill was passed by Parliament in 2023 and subsequently signed into law by President Adama Barrow, officially criminalising torture. However, concerns persist regarding accountability for acts of torture documented by the TRRC from 1997 to 2016. To address this, an international court in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been established to prosecute suspected perpetrators using international law.

The Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission recommended broadening the discussion to recognise both physical and psychological torture as criminal acts, citing the Zimbabwean Constitution’s prohibition of both forms of torture.

Another panellist stressed the urgency of developing a regional treaty and comprehensive strategy aimed at abolishing torture in alignment with global standards.

The panel concluded with calls for stronger implementation of existing legal frameworks and enhanced support for victims of torture.