Regional Strategy Ideas Inception Meeting 26 - 28 February 2007

1. Regional Strategy IdeasInception Meeting26 - 28 February 2007

2. Project Objectives Overall Objective Facilitating regular visits to places of detention by international and local bodies as per the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture in the 4 target countries Specific Objectives • Promote signature and ratification of the OPCAT • Strengthen national capacity in the 4 states to fulfil the obligations under OPCAT

3. Target countries/groups Target Countries • Bangladesh • Cambodia • Philippines • Sri Lanka Target groups • The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary • General public, national HR institutions, civil society etc. • International community—UN HR agencies, EU, international donors and diplomatic community.

4. Objective to be achieved by • Regional Network —RCT, AHRC, RC and 4 NCs • National Networks —members of BRCT (Bangladesh), PAT (Sri Lanka) BALAY (Philippines), National AHRC office, Cambodia

5. Tasks 1. Biannual meetings 2. Visiting national networks 3. Developing background material 5. Developing training and campaign material 4. Maintaining and updating website 5. Survey and report of torture and ill treatment 6. Study existing standards of documenting torture

6. Tasks cont’d 7. National lobbying and campaigning activities 8. Obtaining and disseminating information internationally 9. International lobbying

7. 1. Biannual meetings • Attend meetings in Hong Kong and the other countries • Provide material and other assistance that maybe required at meetings • Draw up agenda of matters to be discussed at meetings in consultation with national coordinators, AHRC and RCT. • Facilitate sharing of information, experience and timeframe problems in project implementation. • Reschedule future programme schedule if required in consultation with partners • Making available minutes and proceedings of meetings to partners

8. 2. Visiting National Networks • Tentatively decide on dates of visits at inception meeting • Meeting with national coordinators and representatives of the network • Discussing progress in project implementation • Participate in project activities • Meet with members of target groups • Participate in view exchange meetings • Discussing questions and limitations in project implementation • Discussing overcoming limitations • Report on visit

9. 3. Background material • Developing OPCAT background material in consultation with partners and national coordinators        • Editing material sent by national coordinators • Two types of background material: (i)General material—common to all countries (ii) Specific material—for each country

10. Background material cont'd • National Coordinators may translate material developed and use in national campaigns and training • Assist in developing other training materials for OPCAT for each country • Assist in developing other campaign materials for OPCAT for each country

11. Examples of material • General introductory information about OPCAT in form of brochures, posters, handbills. e.g. FAQs • More detailed info about OPCAT including background, importance and reach of OPCAT • More technical documents including legal and methodological implications of OPCAT particularly re NPMs • Press releases and attractive media kits • If possible, newspaper adverts and video documentaries that could be disseminated by media and used during conferences and seminars.

12. 4. Main Website • Decide at inception meetings on types of material • Make available background material developed • Updates on progress of national network activities • Share experience of successful campaigns for OPCAT in other countries • Include documentation of torture and results of survey in target countries

13. Maintaining Website Elements involved in maintaining website • Web space (AHRC) • Developing and editing materials for website (RC) • Technical aspects—including web design and maintenance and updates (TE)

14. National Websites Two methods: One • Main website designed to accommodate national websites. • Uploading material from either national network by a trained person or, • National networks to send material to AHRC

15. National Websites cont'd OR Two • Each country to design and maintain own website • National coordinator to find required technical assistance and web space

16. 5. Survey Activities: • Survey of torture and ill treatment in detention centres in each of the countries • Report on survey of torture and ill treatment in detention centres

17. Survey • Guidelines for survey to be discussed at inception meeting and biannual meetings • Progress of surveys to be regularly monitored and discussed by RC with NCs • RC to offer any intermediary assistance or guidance requested by NCs • Upon completion of survey, RC to assist disseminating final report and information obtained in report.

18. 6. Documenting torture Re documenting torture and studying existing standards of documentation: • Guidelines to be established at inception meeting • Encourage and assist national networks to document cases and send in information on documented cases • Provide space on website to include such information • Encourage national networks to send in Urgent Appeals

19. 7. Local Activities • View exchange meetings in each of the countries • Seminars with all target groups in each of the countries • Website for each of the countries • Media campaigning • Street movement campaign • Public hearings • UN and red letter days

20. Local Activities cont'd Upon request, RC will: • Offer guidance and assistance in conducting any of these activities • Attend events organize by NCs if held to coincide with visit • Disseminate information about events on website

21. 8. International lobbying • Maintaining links with international and regional human rights organizations for purposes of gathering and disseminating information • Assisting national networks lobby UN agencies, international donors and the diplomatic community of their countries and • Use existing AHRC and RCT links with UN, EU etc -- to influence target states to ratify or implement OPCAT