UN experts call for creation of torture prevention body in PH

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) — The Philippines is in dire need of a national torture prevention body, United Nations (UN) experts said Thursday, after concluding their second visit in the country.

Victor Zaharia, head of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), suggested that the Philippines fast track the adoption of the bills currently in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

«The magnitude of issues observed by the delegation reaffirms the urgency of establishing an independent torture prevention mechanism with unrestricted access to all places of deprivation of liberty,» he said.

The creation of a national body will be a key partner in preventing torture and ill-treatment in the country, Zaharia added.

The SPT delegation visited over 40 places of deprived liberty across the country in 11 days.

It includes police stations, jails, prisons, drug rehabilitation centers, reformation and education facilities for minors, immigration detention centers, military and drug enforcement agency facilities.

Experts noted after the visit that there were «major challenges» in the country's detention facilities such as overcrowding.

READ: DOJ: Overcrowding issue in jails will be resolved within Marcos term

«It is vital that safeguards in police custody are effectively guaranteed at all times, and that people deprived of their liberty are treated in accordance with the law and international standards,» Zaharia said.

The UN torture prevention experts who visited the country were Victor Zaharia, Satyabhooshun Gupt Domah, Aisha Shujune Muhammad, and Martin Zinkler. They were also joined by two human rights officers from the Commission on Human Rights.