The United Nations’ Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) is set to make its highly anticipated second visit to New Zealand from September 13 to 25, examining the country’s safeguards against torture and ill-treatment in detention.
During the mission, the SPT delegation will tour prisons, police stations, and other facilities where individuals may be deprived of their liberty. They will meet with government officials, civil society representatives, UN agencies, and national preventive monitoring bodies, known collectively as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).
“We are eager to assess the impact of developments in New Zealand since our last visit over a decade ago,” said Shujune Muhammad, head of the SPT delegation. “Our goal is to support stronger and more effective measures for preventing torture and ill-treatment, including enhancing the mandate and operations of the Aotearoa NPM.”
The visit reflects a growing global focus on human rights accountability, and New Zealand’s cooperation ahead of the mission signals a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue. At the conclusion of their work, the SPT will present confidential preliminary findings to the New Zealand government.
The delegation includes Aisha Shujune Muhammad (Maldives) as Head of Delegation, Djordje Alempijevic (Serbia), Elīna Šteinerte (Latvia), Victor Zaharia (Moldova), and two SPT Human Rights Officers. New Zealand ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2007, committing to international oversight of detention conditions.
This high-profile visit marks a critical moment for New Zealand’s human rights record, with the SPT’s findings expected to shape policy reforms and strengthen protections for those in detention.
UN Torture Prevention Panel Arrives in New Zealand for Major Human Rights Review
