Intervention by the Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic, Amb. Martín García Moritán

December 12

Excellences, distinguished guests, good morning,

Let me begin by thanking the members of the Convention against Torture Initiative for organizing this new edition of the Annual Forum and for inviting me to participate in this panel.

Argentina ratified the Convention on 1986, accepting the competence of the Committee to receive communications, both from individuals and from other States alleging non-compliance with the Convention.

Some years later, in 1994, the Convention received constitutional hierarchy becoming therefore part of our core legal system.

Nevertheless, after more than 30 years of being Party to the Convention the work on the field of prevention and non-recurrence continues since fulfillment of the obligations under the Convention requires an active political commitment from policy makers, security forces and the community as a whole.

Argentina is strongly convinced of the clear linkage between the implementation of the Convention and the common efforts to achieve SDG 16 and the whole implementation of the Agenda 2030.

In this context, after 13 years, in December 2015, Argentina decided to appear once more before the Committee against Torture, as a reflection our conviction that human rights are a fundamental part in the design of all prevention and protection policies.

 

Since then, it has been also strengthening the implementation of the National System for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, including by activating the National Committee on Prevention.

Based on its international commitments, the Federal Government has also worked with local authorities to establish mechanisms on the ground and closer to the individuals by developing a National Plan for the Implementation and Strengthening of Local Mechanisms for the Prevention of Torture.

Currently, there are already 8 provincial Committees on prevention that work together and in cooperation under the umbrella of the Federal Council.

Please, let me also share some of the efforts that we have been implementing to reach the target of the 2030 Agenda on "Equal justice for all".

Argentina has more than 80 active centers all around the country that provide comprehensive legal and community services to underprivileged communities. Each center has a team of lawyers, psychologists, social workers and community mediators.

In addition, a set of public ombudsmen, law schools and bar associations provide free legal representation in civil cases that are not usually accepted by private lawyers, with a view to facilitate the access to justice of those more marginalized, who are often more vulnerable to become victims of violence, torture or other degrading treatments.

Argentina's actions in this field aim at bridging the gaps in access to justice that affect the most disadvantaged communities, through a human rights and multidimensional perspective.

Other relevant area where we are also working in is related to the training and education of security forces and their role in the prevention of torture.

In fact, in the last universal periodic review of Argentina, our Government accepted a recommendation to deepen all policies of prevention and fight against institutional violence, including by the training of the security forces and of the penitentiary system in compliance with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules) and human rights standards.

Finally, as part of our integral policy to the prevention of torture, we will be receiving in 2018 the visit of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in the understanding that Member States should use all available tools to fully eradicate torture from their respective societies.

To finalize, please let me once again thank the organizers on the behalf of my country for bringing this important discussion to the United Nations and to advocate for a swift implementation of the Agenda 2030 in line with a full respect and protection of the human rights of all.

I thank you