Workshop on engaging with UN Anti-Torture Mechanisms

Venue: Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University, Parramatta campus
Time: 10.00 AM – 2:00 PM (Registration from 9:30 AM)
Participation by invitation only

The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP), the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (NSW STARTTS) and the Whitlam Institute are pleased to be to hosting a special workshop on engaging with UN anti-torture mechanisms, held on the occasion of Human Rights Day.

This powerful workshop is designed for community leaders and members of diaspora communities who are originally from – or have ancestral connections to – countries where torture is used systematically to silence dissent and opposition.

This workshop will strengthen your knowledge on torture prevention mechanisms and build your capacity to engage with them on behalf of your community.

The workshop will be led by Steven Caruana CF, Detention Monitoring and Torture Prevention Treaty (OPCAT) Coordinator (ACT NPM Coordinator) for the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Steven brings a wealth of expertise in detention monitoring, torture-prevention mechanisms, and Australia’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).

Workshop Topics:

• what constitutes the legal definition of torture,
• what is meant by ‘other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’,
• the role of the UN CAT Committee,
• how and when to engage in the Periodic Review Process and the types of information that is relevant to the Committee when making a report,
• the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and the role of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) and National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), and
• how to engage with the UN SPT and the NPM.

Bios

Steven Caruana is the Detention Monitoring and Torture Prevention Treaty (OPCAT) Coordinator (ACT NPM Coordinator) with the Commonwealth Ombudsman. In this position he promotes collaboration, cooperation and consistency between the three bodies that make up the ACT National Preventive Mechanism (ACT Ombudsman, ACT Human Rights Commission and the ACT Inspector of Custodial Services).

Program Report

This workshop concluded on 10 December 2025.  You can read the program report here.