OSCE Mission to Skopje supports conference that aims to strengthen Ombudsman Institution capacities to include anti-torture work

SKOPJE, 25 September 2009 - An OSCE-supported conference that started in Skopje today aims to begin a process to strengthen the Ombudsman Institution's capacity to deal with prevention of torture and inhuman treatment.

The conference is the first part of an OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje project that supports a consultative process that aims to discuss the functioning of the recently-established National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which the country ratified earlier this year.

The conference will be followed by three thematic workshops focusing on deprivation of liberty and freedom of movement in prisons, police holding cells and psychiatric institutions.

"Regular communication and experience-sharing among domestic stakeholders - the Ombudsman office and other bodies in the field of torture prevention - will make the mechanism more effective," said Ambassador Natalya Drozd, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission.

National Ombudsman Ixhet Memeti added: "The competencies and instruments of the Ombudsman Institution must be strengthened to enable it to objectively and fully determine the truth in cases of torture. This will be achieved with the recently adopted changes to the Law on Ombudsman that adapted it in line with the Optional Protocol."

This OSCE Mission is implementing the project in co-operation with the UN Sub-committee for Prevention of Torture, the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the Association for Prevention of Torture and the Czech Public Defender of Rights, which is a mentor institution to the national Ombudsman Institution.