Santiago, Chile, 16 October 2025 |
Representatives from 16 Latin American and Caribbean countries convened in Santiago this week for a regional workshop focused on preventing torture and ill-treatment in the early stages of police detention, when vulnerability is highest.
Held from 14–16 October 2025, the event brought together government officials, judicial and police authorities, national oversight bodies, and leading experts to exchange best practices and advance concrete reforms. The workshop was organised by the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) and hosted by the Government of Chile.
Over three days of in-depth dialogue and collaboration, participants engaged on five key safeguards: procedural rights, judicial oversight, independent medical examinations, non-coercive interviewing techniques, and complaint and investigation mechanisms. These safeguards are not only essential to preventing torture but are cost-effective tools for improving policing, combating impunity, and strengthening public trust.
The workshop also highlighted innovative approaches taking root across the region, including the digitalisation of detention records, audio and video recording of interrogations, and mandatory two-step medical examinations conducted by both police and prosecutors. These measures demonstrate how new technologies can be leveraged to uphold human dignity, reinforce accountability, and ensure rights-based law enforcement practices.CTI warmly thanks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, the Undersecretariat for Human Rights of Chile, and all participating organisations and partners — APT, CogJus, DIGNITY, NCHR, OHCHR, and UNODC — for their invaluable contributions in fostering constructive regional dialogue. Their collaboration is helping to advance torture-free justice and law enforcement practices in line with the Convention against Torture, broader human rights commitments and the rule of law across the region.