More than 60 representatives from National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across the Asia Pacific are currently participating in an online regional course on torture prevention, jointly delivered by the APF and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT).

Held from 7 April to 9 May 2025, the course supports NHRIs to strengthen their work on preventing torture and ill-treatment. It combines self-paced online modules with weekly live Zoom sessions, with Arabic interpretation provided.

Participants complete weekly micro-learning lesson through the Safety Culture platform, covering torture prevention legal frameworks, detention monitoring, investigative techniques, and public awareness. The content is based on the APF-APT publication Preventing Torture: An Operational Guide for NHRIs.

Facilitated by Ben Buckland and Nid Satjipanon from APT, and supported by Fasoha Aishath, APF Manager of Gender Equality and Capacity Development, and Nayela Akter, APF Project Officer, the course promotes peer learning through the APF Community forum.

“NHRIs have a unique and powerful role in preventing torture,” said Ms Akter. “This course provides them with the tools to undertake this work more effectively - whether through monitoring places of detention, advocating for legal reforms, or raising public awareness.”

The course is part of the APF’s ongoing support to help member institutions implement effective, gender-responsive torture prevention strategies in line with international human rights standards.

Course update: The course completion deadline has been extended until 9 May, and the final Zoom live session has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 7 May 2025, replacing the original completion date of 30 April.