What is the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture?
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) is an international human rights treaty from the United Nations (UN). It is designed to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in countries that have signed and ratified the document. The UN defines torture as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind". In New Mexico, the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture was adopted in 2010. This document puts forth certain obligations for the state to adhere to in order to ensure that instances of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment (CIDTP) do not occur. These obligations include the establishment of a national human rights institution, the training of prison staff, and the installation of an independent national preventative mechanism. The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture is an important document for the promotion of human rights in New Mexico. The document outlines the obligations of the state to ensure that torture and CIDTP are not used and to ensure that people in New Mexico have the right to be protected from torture and other cruel and inhuman practices.
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