On 5th October 2022, WWDA, along with many Australian civil-society organisations, met virtually with members of the UN Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT). The purpose of this Forum was to enable civil society organisations to highlight concerns regarding the issues of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Australian context.
The SPT is the international monitoring body established under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Australia ratified the OPCAT in December 2017.
Under Article 11 of OPCAT, the SPT has two primary operational functions:
- It can undertake visits to States parties, during which it may visit any place where persons may be deprived of their liberty.
- It has an advisory function that involves providing assistance and advice to States parties on the establishment of National Preventive Mechanisms.
WWDA was represented at the SPT Civil Society Forum by CEO, Carolyn Frohmader. Her statement for and on behalf of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) can be found as a publication on this page.