FIACAT Activity Report - 2012

Summary
FIACAT
27, rue de Maubeuge
75009 Paris – France
Tel. +33 (0)1 42 80 01 60
Fax. +33 (0)1 42 80 20 89
E-mail. fiacat@fiacat.org
FIACAT Representation to the UN
in Geneva
c/o CCIG
1 rue de Varembé
P.O. Box 43
1211 Geneva 20 – Switzerland
Tel. +41 787 499 328
E-mail. fiacat.onu@fiacat.org
Design by Mémoire de l’œil - 06 18 17 68 44
ISSN 1816-1316
What is FIACAT?
Message from the President
Action at international level
FIACAT at the United Nations
The Treaty Bodies
FIACAT and the Human Rights Council
FIACAT and the ACHPR
51st Ordinary Session (18 April to 2 May 2012 – Banjul, Gambia
52nd Ordinary Session (25th anniversary of the Commission, 18 to 22 October 2012 at Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire)
Inter-session activities
FIACAT and the Council of Europe
FIACAT and the European Union
FIACAT and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF)
Action with the ACATs
2012 FIACAT International Seminar on “Human dignity: exchanging perspectives.
What can Christians contribute today?”
FIACAT International Council, 20-22 June 2012, Brussels, Belgium
Abolishing the death penalty in Africa
CLOSE-UP ON: Dakar Seminar (12-14 November 2012)
CLOSE-UP ON: Abolition of the death penalty in Benin
End of the three-year programme: Prevention of torture in detention centres in Burkina Faso
Protection for members of the FIACAT network
FIACAT’s work within coalitions
The International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances
The World Coalition against the Death Penalty
CLOSE-UP ON: World Day against the Death Penalty
CLOSE-UP ON: Ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on the abolition
of the death penalty
CLOSE-UP ON: Increasing the number of countries which support UN General Assembly resolutions
calling for a universal moratorium on executions
FIACAT’s Finances in 2012
FIACAT’s team in 2012
FIACAT’s network members in 2012
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What is FIACAT?
Message from the President
The International Federation of Action by Christians
for the Abolition of Torture, FIACAT, is an international
non-governmental human rights organisation, set up in
1987, which works towards the abolition of torture and
the death penalty. The federation brings together some
thirty national associations, the ACATs, present in four
continents.
FIACAT – representing its members in international
and regional organisations.
It enjoys Consultative Status with the United Nations
(UN), Participative Status with the Council of Europe and
Observer Status with the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). FIACAT is also accredited to
the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF).
By referring the concerns of its members working on the
ground to international bodies, FIACAT’s aim is to encourage
the adoption of relevant recommendations and
their implementation by governments.
FIACAT works towards the application of international
human rights conventions, the prevention of torture in
places of detention, and an end to enforced disappearances
and impunity.
FIACAT – building up the capacities of the ACAT
network in thirty countries
FIACAT assists its member associations in organising themselves,
supporting them so that they can become important
players in civil society, capable of raising public awareness and
having an impact on the authorities in their country.
It coordinates the network by promoting exchanges, proposing
regional and international training events and joint campaigns,
thus supporting the activities of the ACATs and providing
them with exposure on the international scene.
FIACAT – a network of Christians united in fighting
torture and the death penalty
FIACAT’s mission is to awaken Churches and Christian organisations
to the scandal of torture and the death penalty and
convince them to act.
The impact of our action:
• FIACAT protects human rights defenders in its network.
In this context, it has been able to secure the release of
several ACAT members arrested because of their human
rights activities.
Sylvie Bukhari-de Pontual
Meeting in Brussels (Belgium) in June 2012 on the occasion
of the FIACAT International Council, ACAT representatives
reflected on their commitment as Christians to
secure respect for human dignity everywhere and always.
gnatory states – “against tyranny and oppression” and as
an objective to be achieved. It was thus established as
a fundamental value of democratic societies, respect for
which should be unconditional, since the human person
alone is the source and embodiment of dignity. Recognition
of human dignity is “the foundation of freedom, justice
and peace in the world”.
Since then, human dignity has been regularly contested
and at the same time invoked as never before. It is
threatened by scientific innovation (especially in the field
of genetics), by the surge in economic and financial globalisation,
by the “commoditisation” of people (modern
slavery, waves of economic or political migration), by the
sophistication of the means of constraint (no longer only
physical but also psychological and moral).
Today, then, it is more important than ever before to
protect, and to ensure effective respect for, the dignity
of each human being since, as underlined by the philosopher
Paul Ricoeur, dignity is a requirement older than
any philosophical formula, a requirement on the basis
of which something is due to a human being simply by
virtue of the fact that he/she is human. This means defending
freedom but also encouraging the assumption of
responsibility for ensuring solidarity – even brotherhood
– with others.
It also takes part in the campaign against the death penalty
by calling on states to abolish capital punishment in
their legal systems.
To give added impact to these efforts, FIACAT is a founding
member of several campaigning coalitions, in particular
the World Coalition against the Death Penalty
(WCADP), the Coalition of International NGOs against
Torture (CINAT) and the International Coalition against
Enforced Disappearances (ICAED)
• Thanks to the advocacy work carried out by FIACAT in
cooperation with its member associations, Burundi,
Togo and Benin have abolished the death penalty
over recent years.
• FIACAT encourages countries to combat prison overcrowding
by restricting excessive pre-trial detention
and encouraging alternatives to imprisonment.
The dignity inherent to all human beings is proclaimed
in the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) and gave rise to the most famous article
in the UDHR, Article 1: “All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason
and conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.” In 1948, as part of the legacy of
Kantian thought, human dignity was considered as both
a moral and a legal reference – even if it had only the
value of a declaration, placing no obligation on the si-
It is in this context that, with the support of FIACAT, their
international Federation, ACAT members - Christians in
the service of the common good - contribute to respect
for human dignity by pursuing resolutely their campaign
for the abolition of torture and the death penalty.
Sylvie Bukhari-de Pontual
President of FIACAT
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Action at international level
FIACAT at the United Nations
FIACAT is actively involved in the work of the Human Rights
Council and the United Nations Treaty Bodies. This involvement
takes several forms: FIACAT acts as a representative
and an advocate, it maintains contacts with the committees’
experts and works in partnership with other NGOs.
However, a distinction should be drawn between two types
of involvement: FIACAT works either within the framework
of the treaty bodies or in the Human Rights Council.
The Treaty Bodies
The Treaty Bodies are committees that monitor the
member States’ implementation, after ratification, of the
Convention that they have ratified. To this end, the Committees
regularly consider member States’ reports on the
way in which they have applied Convention provisions.
At the end of this process, the Committee adopts its
‘Concluding Observations’ which note the positive aspects
of the State’s application of the instrument as well as the
areas where the Committee recommends that it take additional
action.
CLOSE-UP ON:
The 49th Session of the
Committee against Torture
November 2012, Geneva:
FIACAT, ACAT Togo, CACIT and OMCT submitted a joint
alternative report when the United Nations Committee
against Torture was considering Togo. Its conclusions
were as follows.
• Torture is not classified as a crime in Togo’s legal system,
which allows total impunity for acts of torture (it
is still today not recognised as a crime in the country’s
law).
• Police and prison staff are not trained in the international
legal system under which torture is banned absolutely.
• The rules, instructions, methods and practices concerning
the detention and treatment of people held in
custody are lacking systematic monitoring.
This is an effective way of reminding the Togolese Government
of its undertakings.
Pierre-Claver DEKPOH, Secretary-General of ACAT
Togo, said that this session had enabled ACAT Togo
‘not only to boost its credibility and raise its profile, but
also to make more effective its representation to the
Government with a view to implementation by Togo
of the United Nations Convention against Torture. We
hope that this cooperation will increase, and benefit
the physical integrity and dignity of human beings
who are created in the image of God.’
Pierre Claver Dekpoh
Room of the UN Human Rights Council
The United Nations treaty bodies, which are needed to
consolidate the legal environment for combating torture,
the death penalty and enforced disappearances, make use
of the expertise and experience in the field of non-governmental
organisations including FIACAT members, to reinforce
human rights protection.
With these Committees, FIACAT’s role as the ACATs’ international
representative consists essentially of providing
legal expertise on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment. Specifically, FIACAT’s work is first and
foremost to support the ACATs which are responsible
for drawing up the alternative report which will be
forwarded to the Committees’ experts. It then works on
presentations of the case, official meetings, and participation
in Committee meetings, and subsequently assists
the national ACATs in following up the recommendations
adopted.
• The situation in the prisons and, more particularly, detention
conditions are not in line with minimum international
standards.
FIACAT not only made it possible for a member of ACAT
Togo to attend the committee meeting to support this
report, but also helped to have the report published
jointly; it will be disseminated by local partners.
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CLOSE-UP ON:
The Universal Periodic Reviewof
Benin.
This procedure made it possible in 2012 to raise a
large number of concerns highlighted in the joint alternative
reports by FIACAT and ACAT Benin, such as:
• continuing the efforts towards total abolition of
capital punishment, thus respecting the universal
right to life;
• putting in place an independent and effective
national prevention mechanism, in line with the
Committee against Torture’s recommendation;
• taking the necessary measures to establish a definition
of torture and enshrine it as a distinct offence
in the Penal Code;
• ensuring that no statement obtained by torture or
under constraint could be used in a court procedure
and that torture could not be excused on the grounds
of orders by a superior;
• taking firmer action to prevent the abuse of pre-trial
detention, prevent torture and ill-treatment and
prosecute those responsible for infringements of this
kind;
• as a priority, undertaking a reform of the judicial
system to strengthen it and enable it better to combat
impunity and corruption, particularly by putting
an end to the misuse of pre-trial detention.
Theodule CODO, President of ACAT Benin – Cotonou
Branch, said that this participation had made it possible
to demonstrate ‘the deep concern of ACAT Benin
and FIACAT for human beings and the struggle against
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Benin’.
Théodule CODO
FIACAT and the Human Rights Council
Resolution 60/251 of the United Nations General Assembly
instituting the Human Rights Council provides that the
Council shall ‘undertake a universal periodic review, based
on objective and reliable information, of the fulfilment by
each State of its human rights obligations and commitments
in a manner which ensures universality of coverage
and equal treatment with respect to all States; the review
shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive
dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned
and with consideration given to its capacity-building
needs; such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate
the work of treaty bodies; (…)’ (Article 5(e))
FIACAT has been involved in this process since it was set
up, enabling its network of associations to play a full
part; it helps them to draw up contributions on cases
of torture and ill-treatment in the countries concerned,
and represents them in meetings with members of the
Working Group and in the Human Rights Council.
This is therefore a delicate and more political procedure;
it is a matter of raising the concerns of the ACATs while
respecting international diplomacy, since each review
of a country begins with countries’ permanent missions
based in Geneva.
Thus FIACAT regularly informs members of the Council
of situations of torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention,
extrajudicial execution or enforced disappearances
which have been reported to it by the various ACATs.
CLOSE-UP ON:
The case of North Kivu
Province in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
which faces persistent insecurity in connection
with the activities and total impunity of armed
groups, was also the subject of reports by ACAT
DRC.
Many human rights violations taking place there
were able to be recorded and forwarded by FIACAT
to United Nations Special Procedures and the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
of human rights within the African Union. Its main tasks
are to promote, protect and interpret the African Charter
on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Since 1991 FIACAT has had
Observer Status with this Commission, where it represents
the African ACATs.
Some examples to illustrate FIACAT’s participation in
the work of the ACHPR ordinary session:
51st Ordinary Session
(18 April to 2 May 2012 – Banjul, Gambia)
• taking specific measures to ensure that detention
conditions in prison comply with international
standards;
FIACAT and the ACHPR
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is
the body responsible for monitoring the implementation
This session provided an opportunity for FIACAT to take
part in a round table to launch the ‘Study on the Question
of the Death Penalty in Africa’ after its adoption by the
Commission; it spoke on the topic ‘The death penalty, a
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment’,
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thus demonstrating its commitment to supporting and
mobilising its African network with a view to a regional
Convention abolishing the death penalty in Africa.
This session also enabled FIACAT to be involved in another
major issue; it submitted the article ‘Preventing torture
in Burkina Faso: Community Services as an Alternative to
Detention’, which has been published in the newsletter
‘Africa Torture Watch’ disseminated by the Committee for
the Prevention of Torture in Africa.
Hermann KEKERE, member of ACAT Benin, took part in
this Session and reports on his experience:
‘I would like to thank FIACAT very sincerely for giving me
the opportunity to represent ACAT Benin at the 51st Session
of the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights in
April 2012. This participation enabled me to appreciate the
true value of what NGOs do to uphold and promote human
Hermann Kekere
rights on the African continent. It also enabled me to form capacity-building
relationships with two African human rights
NGOs. This participation provided an opportunity for me to
let the voice of ACAT Benin be heard loud and clear and to
raise awareness of its actions and activities in the field. (…)
Today, thanks to this participation, I have a better understanding
of how the ACHPR functions and its mission on the
African continent.’
52nd Ordinary Session (25th anniversary of
the Commission, 18 to 22 October 2012 at
Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire)
FIACAT and ACAT Côte d’Ivoire contributed to this event
by presenting an alternative report to the country’s initial
report, thus highlighting some key points of the human
rights situation in Côte d’Ivoire: protection of the right to
life, prohibition of torture, detention conditions and access
to justice.
This session coincided with the 10th World Day against
the Death Penalty (10 October 2012), for which FIACAT
organised a round table in partnership with Penal Reform
International and the FIDH. This was a significant
milestone and an opportunity to review 10 years of the
abolitionist struggle in Africa through several presentations
including one from Paul ANGAMAN, President of
ACAT Côte d’Ivoire, and Mrs KAYITESI, Chair of the Working
Group on the Death Penalty in Africa.
On this occasion, FIACAT not only argued in favour of the
adoption of a Protocol to the African Charter on Human
and Peoples’ Rights on abolition of the death penalty,
but also exhorted the African States to vote for the moratorium
on the death penalty which was submitted for
adoption at the United Nations General Assembly in December
2012.
FIACAT also took the opportunity to point out the dangers
and threats that ACAT members face, particularly those of
ACAT DRC who come from the North Kivu Province.
Finally, there was a review of the work of the mandates
put in place by the ACHPR, and a proposal was put to the
Special Rapporteur on prisons and detention conditions
in Africa that it direct its attention towards combating
abusive recourse to remand and introducing alternatives
to prison, a strategy aimed at preventing ill-treatment
in prisons and highlighting the absolutely deplorable
situation in prisons which is a characteristic of African
countries
Paul ANGAMAN, President of ACAT Côte d’Ivoire, drew
the following conclusions:
‘My participation in the panel on the World Day Against
the Death Penalty enabled me to see how the World Coalition
against the Death Penalty has made progress, but also
made me aware of the battles it still faces against the resistance
and retrograde attitudes of some countries such as
the Gambia, which unfortunately hosts the headquarters of
the ACHPR.The participation of ACAT Côte d’Ivoire alongside
Paul Angaman
FIACAT was valuable to us locally and personally, helping
us to be recognised by other NGOs and by the Ministry of
Justice, Human Rights and Civil Liberties which, more than
in the past, regularly invites us to its activities now that
we are one of the few local NGOs to have submitted and
published our alternative report in time.’
Inter-session activities
Apart from its participation in the Ordinary Sessions of
the ACHPR, FIACAT also works closely with the Working
Group on the Death Penalty in the event of imminent
executions on the African Continent, encouraging it
to issue Urgent Appeals, as was the case twice in 2012,
in the Gambia and Nigeria. It also passes on information
to the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in
Africa when members of FIACAT network are threatened.
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FIACAT and the Council of Europe
Thanks to the Participative Status it enjoys with the
Council of Europe, FIACAT took part in two sessions of the
Conference of International NGOs held in Strasbourg in
January and June 2012.
It is responsible for informing the ACATs of the periodic
or special visits by the Committee for the Prevention of
Torture (CPT) and those of the Council of Europe’s Human
Rights Commissioner, and it also takes part in the
meetings of CINGO, a think-tank of international Christian
NGOs in the Council of Europe, which highlights the
Christian identity within the Council of Europe. It was
given the task of drafting a recommendation on ‘Developments
in the situation of torture and cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment in the member States of
the Council of Europe’ by the Chair of the Human Rights
Committee of the Council of Europe’s Conference of International
NGOs. This action arises from an alarming discovery:
the constant increase in the number of judgments
by the European Court of Human Rights, a symptom of
the widespread use of torture and other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment, which is not necessarily investigated
by the member states.
This situation should be seen in parallel with member
States’ persistent shortcomings in taking account of recommendations
made to them in reports of visits by the
CPT, and which point out numerous violations by agents
of the State and health care professionals working in detention
centres.
This recommendation will be submitted to the Conference
of International NGOs in January 2013 and voted
on by all the international NGOs present.
FIACAT has also taken a stand on the proposal to reform
the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which was
raised at a conference held in Brighton, United Kingdom,
in the context of the UK Presidency of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers.
In a joint press release with ACAT France in April 2012,
FIACAT stated that:
• The reforms already undertaken to reduce the volume
of cases before the Court, particularly since Protocol 14
came into force in June 2010, have begun to bear fruit.
The main priority is improving implementation so that
they produce the intended effects in full, rather than
adopting new measures in too great a hurry.
FIACAT and the European Union
FIACAT is a participant, in particular on issues relating
to ill-treatment, torture and the death penalty, in the
activities of the Human Rights and Democracy Network
(HRDN), an NGO set up in Brussels that has become a privileged
interlocutor of the European Parliament, Commission
and Council.
In the HRDN, FIACAT is conducting a fruitful dialogue with
the European External Action Service, particularly its Special
Directorate for Human Rights and the Council’s Human
Rights Committee (COHOM), which now has a permanent
chair. In 2012 this dialogue was extended to include the
Council’s new Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr
Stavros LAMBRIDINIS.
FIACAT also regularly follows debates in the European
Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI)
when a topic concerns it. In 2012, FIACAT’s attention was
drawn to the review of the anti-torture guidelines, the
consistency of human rights policies, their effectiveness
and their evaluation.
The HRDN also adopted a Manifesto for the European Parliament
with a view to the forthcoming European elections.
Finally, FIACAT is a member of the NGOs Platform
of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights,
which holds meetings that in 2012 largely concerned combating
discrimination.
FIACAT and the International Organisation
of La Francophonie (OIF)
FIACAT took part in the Eighth Conference of international
NGOs/civil society organisations accredited with the institutions
of the International Organisation of La Francophonie
in Paris on 7, 8 and 9 June 2012.
This meeting provided an opportunity to follow up the
recommendations made by the Sixth and Seventh Conferences
of French-speaking civil society and to put recommendations
to the member states in the run-up to the
2012 Fourteenth French-speaking Summit in Kinshasa.
Members of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)
• The member States have the main responsibility to
apply the Convention on Human Rights and the Court
judgments. A significant proportion of referrals concern
violations which the Court has already condemned, but
where the countries concerned have not made the required
changes.
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Action with the ACATs
After each speech, there were discussions in small
groups focusing on situations of human rights violations
experienced on the field by the various ACAT
members, in the light of the ethical criteria highlighted
by the speakers.
The speeches and discussions were summed up by
Ignace Bertin, a Dominican theologian and Director of
Espaces Bruxelles, and Roger Koudé Koussetogue, lecturer
in international law and the philosophy of law at the
Catholic University of Lyon.
rent conduct and management of affiliated organisations, and
for the relations between ACAT associations and with FIACAT.
Apart from electing a new International Bureau, including the
re-election of its President, Sylvie Bukhari-de Pontual, the Federation
also welcomed two new ACAT member associations,
from Liberia and the United States.
FIACAT’s New Board
FIACAT is helping its member associations to organise
themselves. It supports the process that makes them influential
participants in civil society, able to raise public
awareness and make an impact on government in their
countries, promoting exchanges of views, proposing training
courses and joint intervention initiatives. This is a
way of giving greater exposure to the ACATs at international
level.
2012 FIACAT International Seminar
on “Human dignity: exchanging perspectives.
What can Christians contribute
today?”
FIACAT organised an international seminar for members
and supporters of the ACAT network from 17 to 19 June
2012 at the Maison Notre-Dame du Chant d’Oiseau, Brussels
(Belgium).
International Seminar – Brussels
A series of four lectures aimed to focus thinking within ACAT
on ways of ensuring respect for human rights and on the
specific nature of the Christian approach to ACAT’s work.
The first lecture introduced the basic concept of human
rights in the view of an atheist philosopher, Baudouin Descharneux,
head of the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study
of Religions and Secular Society (CIER) in Brussels.
The second dealt with an approach to human dignity by a
Muslim theologian, Farid El Asri, Professor of Islamic Religion
and Scientific Director at the Catholic University of Louvain.
The third reflected the Christian view of an African Protestant
theologian, Jeannine Mokaminega on human rights
and human dignity.
And the fourth was a paper presented by Elena Lasida, economist
and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Social and Economic
Science at the Catholic Institute in Paris, on ‘Defending
human dignity to make the world a more habitable place for
everyone’.
The exchanges of view between the ACATs from different
cultures and often diverse activities were seen by
many as an enriching experience, while new areas of
cooperation between the associations were set up as a
result of these multilateral talks.
FIACAT International Council,
20-22 June 2012, Brussels, Belgium.
The Council brought together the representatives of affiliated
ACATs from four continents. Its frank exchanges of
views enabled all concerned to review the past four years
and set targets for the four to come.
While the main focus was on key issues such as action to prevent
torture in detention centres, the campaign for the abolition
of enforced disappearances, protection of members of the
FIACAT network, strengthening international representation
etc, this Council was primarily an opportunity to adopt three
major texts re-establishing FIACAT: a new FIACAT Charter, an
Association Project setting out details of the Federation’s
missions and action resources and a Good Governance Charter,
laying down the requirements for the rigorous and transpa-
Abolishing the death penalty
in Africa
In order to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty
in Africa and to strengthen the capacity of its members to
act, FIACAT decided to consult all the members of its network
in Africa with a view to identifying their needs and defining
with them the strategies to be followed to achieve the abolition
of the death penalty throughout the continent. FIACAT
therefore organised two regional workshops in order to take
account the geographical, cultural and organisational characteristics
of each ACAT. These workshops were designed to
strengthen the ACATs’ ability to campaign for the abolition
of the death penalty, to define joint strategies and to put in
place an action plan for the abolition of the death penalty in
sub-Saharan Africa. The first of these seminars took place in
Dakar from 12 to 14 November 2012.
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CLOSE-UP ON:
Dakar Symposium
(12-14 November 2012)
This symposium, which brought together 19 ACAT
members from nine West African ACATs, began with an
opening ceremony on the premises of the ‘Francophonie’
University Agency. The participants introduced
themselves, gave an account of the projects undertaken
in their respective countries and described their
expectations of the symposium.
Benin), and Guillaume COLIN and Sabrina BIGNIER
(FIACAT Secretariat) were aimed at encouraging an
exchange of views on the existing or planned international
instruments needed to achieve the symposium’s
objectives.
Active participation, debates, group discussions, closing
press conference, media presence – these were
the means used to target the obstacles faced in each
country and to draw up national and regional strategies,
while focusing on raising awareness among public
opinion of the death penalty issue. Such awareness-raising
– notably among religious and political leaders, the
media and schools – is all the more crucial given that a
majority of the public still supports the death penalty.
Abolition of the death penalty
in Benin
Seminar Participants
The three days that followed were structured around
talks on the abolition of the death penalty and group
sessions to refine the various strategies. For example,
the analysis of international texts and the participation
of Professor Carlson ANYANGWE, member of the
Working Group on the Death Penalty in Africa of the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
(ACHPR), Paul ANGAMAN, President of ACAT Côte
d’Ivoire, Pascal ZOHOUN and Hermann KEKERE (ACAT
Following intensive lobbying by ACAT Benin and FIACAT,
on 5 October 2012, Benin abolished the death penalty by
ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.
When the new Code of Criminal Procedure was submitted
to Benin’s Constitutional Court, the President of
FIACAT wrote to the Court concerning two provisions
which were contrary to the ratified Protocol. The Constitutional
Court endorsed the arguments put forward by
FIACAT and declared that the provisions of the Code of
Criminal Procedure referring to the death penalty were
unconstitutional. The modified Code was adopted unanimously
on 17 December 2012.
Prison in Burkina Faso
End of the three-year programme:
Prevention of torture in detention
centres in Burkina Faso
The FIACAT project to improve conditions of detention
in Burkina Faso is a three-year programme aimed at
preventing torture by increasing the capacity of those
working in detention centres in Burkina Faso to take
action.
What is the main impact of this project?
• Greater networking between organisations in civil society
working within the prison system;
• Increased consultation of these organisations by the ministries
concerned, i.e. justice and the promotion of human
rights;
• An increase in the number of victims of ill-treatment
speaking out in public and more echoes in the media;
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FIACAT’s work within coalitions
Prison in Burkina Faso
• Greater expectations on the part of detainees (requests
for their case to be examined, recourse to lawyers, etc.);
• More intensive lobbying of magistrates by members of
ACAT Burkina;
• Submission to the ACHPR by FIACAT and ACAT Burkina
of an alternative report to the periodic report by the
State, in support of improving conditions of detention;
• Publication by FIACAT of an article in the newsletter of
the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa
(CPTA) insisting on respect for procedural guarantees
related to detention, which would make it possible to
prevent torture.
Protection for members of the
FIACAT network
CLOSE-UP ON:
Intervention in TOGO in
April 2012
Following the intimidation and harassment of Togolese
human rights activists belonging to “Sauvons
le Togo” [Let’s save Togo], FIACAT reacted immediately:
preparation of a press release; call for
action addressed to the ACAT network; and, above
all, request to the European institutions in a position
to intervene with the Togolese authorities, such as
the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human
Rights (DROI).
CLOSE-UP ON:
Intervention in North Kivu
in February 2012
On 11 February 2012, Athanase KANYAMANDA,
member of the North Kivu branch of ACAT DRC, was
arrested by members of the National Intelligence
Agency and taken to an unknown destination. FIA-
CAT urged the Congolese authorities to release him,
in the absence of any charge, and insist that Athanase
KANYAMANDA be neither tortured nor submitted
to other forms of ill-treatment. The day after
this intervention he was released.
The International Coalition against
Enforced Disappearances
FIACAT represents ACATs at sessions of the Committee on
Enforced Disappearances when a state where an ACAT
exists and which has ratified the International Convention
for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,
has to submit a report on its implementation.
FIACAT, which is a member of the Coalition’s Steering Committee,
takes an active part in decisions. For example, it
is involved in the “country of the month” procedure, where
it is responsible for preparing the letters addressed to the
relevant authorities. The Coalition is currently considering
a project for the monitoring of the Convention. If necessary,
FIACAT provides representation to the coalition’s partners
in Geneva and is involved in the various consultations
between civil society and the Committee.
The World Coalition against the
Death Penalty
In 2002 FIACAT played an active role in co-founding the
World Coalition against the Death Penalty, a network
bringing together more than 140 NGOs, trade unions,
lawyers and local communities with a view to strengthening
the international dimension of the campaign against
the death penalty. This Coalition also lobbies international
organisations and organises international events, including
three major campaigns.
CLOSE-UP ON:
World Day against the
Death Penalty
The tenth World Day against the Death Penalty, on
10 October 2012, focused on the progress made over
the last ten years and on the challenges of tomorrow.
Since 2003, every year on 10 October, throughout the
world, abolitionists organise events to raise public
awareness and to demonstrate their opposition to the
death penalty. Many ACATs took action last year to
raise awareness among their church communities and
among the public of the denial of justice that executions
represent.
For instance in Niger, a conference was organised at
which the President of ACAT Niger, Moumouni ALFARI,
recalled the debates launched by the National Advisory
Council of the 2010 military transition, following the
reactions from all social classes in Niger when Libya began
executing Nigeriens who had been condemned
to death in Libya. Everyone – political and religious
leaders and members of civil society – spoke as one to
express their indignation.
ACAT Niger
16 17

FIACAT’s Finances in 2012
CLOSE-UP ON:
Ratification of the Second
Optional Protocol to the ICCPR
on the abolition of the death
penalty
Following meetings between FIACAT and representatives
of the Cote d’Ivoire and Senegalese Governments,
the Human Rights Director of the Cote d’Ivoire
Ministry for Human Rights, André KAMATÉ, undertook,
during a Round Table co-organised by FIACAT on
10 October 2012 to mark the World Day Against the
Death Penalty, to ratify this Protocol.
Increasing the number of
countries which support UN
General Assembly resolutions
calling for a universal moratorium
on executions
FIACAT worked alongside the Cameroon, Cote
d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Central African Republic,
Senegal and Chad ACATs to urge these countries
to vote in favour of the draft resolution. They were
reminded of their international commitments: for
example, a “Monthly Appeal” was published in October
2012 concerning Ghana. In October and November
FIACAT visited Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal to meet
officials in the Justice, Human Rights and Foreign
Ministries.
EXPENSES
261950 €
INCOME
259300 €
FIACAT warmly thanks its private donors
who have regularly supported its activities
in 2012.
FIACAT is extremely grateful to its institutional
partners which, for many years, have
encouraged its efforts in the struggle to
abolish torture and the death penalty:
.Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Germany
.Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Luxembourg
.French Development Agency (AFD)
.Missio, Germany
.CCFD, France
.Tavola Valdese, Italy
All of these through their contributions play
an active part in supporting the activities of
FIACAT and its network.
As a result, on 19 November 2012, 110 countries
voted in favour of the Resolution (39 against and
36 abstentions), including Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, the
Central African Republic and Niger. This marked an
important stage in the abolitionist campaign.
On 20 December 2012, the UN General Assembly
adopted Resolution 67/176 by a very large majority:
111 countries in favour, with 41 against and 34
abstentions, which means that two more countries
voted in favour compared with the Resolution adopted
in 2010. In Africa, 17 countries voted in favour of
the December 2010 resolution. In 2012, 23 countries
voted in favour of Resolution 67/176.
EXPENSES
Training sessions and Human Rights projects
ACAT network support
Actions towards international organisations
Running costs
Total
INCOME
Grants & special donations
Contributions from ACATs
Others donations
Financial & exceptionnal income
Total
127500 €
60700 €
42750 €
31000 €
261950 €
176410 €
61960 €
18500 €
2430 €
259300 €
You Can Help FIACAT! Help us to
Build a World without Torture.
Please send your donation, making cheques
payable to:
FIACAT, 27 rue de Maubeuge, 75009 Paris, France
Or by bank transfer:
Name of bank: Crédit coopératif
Address: Agence d’Odéon, 122 Boulevard Saint
Germain, 75006 Paris, France
Bank code: 2559 00004 21020532908 90
IBAN: FR76 4255 9000 0421 0205 3290 890
BIC: CCOPFRPPXXX
(In France, tax deductibility of 66%, up to a limit of 20% of
taxable income)
18 19

FIACAT’s team in 2012 FIACAT’s network members in 2012
International Bureau
President :
Sylvie BUKHARI-DE PONTUAL (France)
Treasurer and in charge of relations with
ACATs in America and Asia :
Ronald ALBERT (Canada)
Persons in charge of relations with Churches:
Janette CHAMBONNIÈRE (Belgium)
Persons in charge of relations with Churches:
Massimo CORTI (Italy)
Person in charge of the relations with the
European ACATs and the Council of Europe:
Bernadette JUNG (Germany)
Person in charge of relations with the African
ACATs and the African Commission on Human
and People’s Rights:
Bernard SAGARA (Mali)
Person in charge of relations with the European
Union and the United Nations:
Jean-Bernard MARIE (France)
Secretariat
Financial adviser to the International Bureau:
Philippe WESTERCAMP (France)
General Secretary :
Sabrina BIGNIER (France)
Programme Officer in charge of the relations with
the African Commission of Humans and Peoples’
Rights and the Death Penalty :
Guillaume COLIN (France)
FIACAT’s permanent representative at the UN:
Nathalie JEANNIN (Geneva)
FIACAT’s permanent representative at the UN:
Lionel GRASSY (Geneva)
Programme Officer in charge of
administration and logistic:
Nicolas HUET (France)
Interns and Volunteers
FIACAT wishes to thank the volunteers and interns who
working with it for the past few years and enable it to do
its job.
Africa
ACAT Benin
03 BP 0394
Cotonou - Bénin
Tél : +229 21 04 35 88
acat_coordbnin@yahoo.fr
ACAT Burkina-Faso
02 BP 5093
Ouagadougou 02 - Burkina-Faso
Tél : +226 50 47 81 81
+226 70 25 51 51
+226 70 75 92 17
Fax : +226 50 35 91 32
acatburkina@yahoo.fr
ACAT-Burundi
B.P 6687 - Bujumbura - Burundi
Tel : +257 79977781
Fax : +257 22258573
acatbur@yahoo.fr
ACAT Cameroon
Archbishop’s house
Po Box 82
Bamenda - Cameroun
acat_cameroon@yahoo.com
ACAT Central African Republic
BP 527
Bangui - République Centrafricaine
acat_rca@yahoo.fr
ACAT Congo
BP 5612
Pointe-Noire - Congo
acatcongo_brazza@yahoo.fr
ACAT Côte d’Ivoire
INADES
08 BP 2088 Abidjan 08
Côte d’Ivoire
Tel : +225 22 40 47 20 (INADES)
Fax : +225 22 44 84 38
acat_ci2230@yahoo.fr
ACAT Ghana *
Po Box 532
Ho, VR
Ghana
acatghana@yahoo.com
ACAT Liberia
LINSU Building/Federation of Liberia
Youth (FLY)
P. O Box 10-2128
Corner of McDonald St. & Camp-
Johnson Road
Monrovia - Liberia
Tel. : +231 6 591502
acatliberiamail@yahoo.com
ACAT Madagascar
Lot III U 152 T Bis X Anosizato-Est,
Antananarivo 101
Madagascar
Tel. : + 261 332835053
/341776255
acatmadagascar@yahoo.fr
ACAT Mali
Lycée Prosper Kamara
BP 165, Hamdallaye
Bamako
Mali
sdacatmali@yahoo.fr
ACAT Niger *
s/c Alfari Balma
BP 13331
Niamey
Niger
mourniger@yahoo.fr
ACAT Democratic Republic
of Congo
National Coordination:
acatrdc_coordinat@yahoo.fr
acatrdc2013@gmail.com
local 86, Immeuble Botour mezzanine,
Kinshasa-Gombe
RDC
ACAT Senegal
Paroisse universitaire St-Dominique
Km4, B.P: 5098 Dakar-Fann
Senegal
acatsenegal@yahoo.fr
ACAT Tchad
BP 2231
N’Djamena
Tchad
acatchad@yahoo.fr
ACAT Togo
72, Rue des Sisals
Tokoin Gbadago
BP 339 Lomé
Togo
Tél. : + 228 22 22 96 99
+228 90 05 64 93
+228 90 03 44 76
acattogo@yahoo.fr
20 21

America
ACAT Brazil
Praça Clovis Bevilaqua, 351, sala 701
01018-001 Sao Paulo SP
Brazil
Tel / Fax : +55 11 3101 60 84
acatbrasil@acatbrasil.org.br
ACAT Canada
2715, ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine
Montreal (Qc) H3T 1B6
Canada
Tel. : +1 514 890 61 69
Fax : +1 514 890 64 84
info@acatcanada.org
ACAT USA
P.O. Box 314
Pleasant Hill, TN 38578-0314
United States
revhdsmith@starpower.net
Asia
ACAT Philippines *
Our Lady of Fatima Parish
37 Cordillera Street
Quezon City, Manilla
Philippines
chie6122002@yahoo.com
Europe
ACAT Germany
Postfach 1114
D-59331 Lüdinghausen
Deutchland
Tél : +49 (0) 25 91 75 33
Fax : +49 (0) 25 91 70 527
acat.ev@t-online.de
ACAT België-Vlaanderen
Zevenkerken 4
B- 8200 Sint Andries - België
Tél : +32 50 40 61 32
secretariaat@acat-belgie-vlaanderen.org
ACAT Belgium French Speaking
Section
Quai au Foin 53
B- 1000 Bruxelles - Belgium
Tél/fax : +32 (0) 2 223 01 59
acatbelgiquefranco@hotmail.com
ACAT Spain
c/ Angli 55
08017 Barcelona - Spain
Tél : +34 93 203 89 15
Fax : +34 93 203 48 30
acat@pangea.org
ACAT France
7 rue Georges Lardennois
F- 75019 Paris - France
Tél : +33 (0 ) 1 40 40 42 43
Fax : +33 (0) 1 40 40 42 44
acat@acatfrance.fr
ACAT Italia
Via della Traspontina 15
00193 Roma
Italia
Tél : +39 06 68 65 358
acatitalia@yahoo.it / posta@acatitalia.it
ACAT Luxemburg
5 Avenue Marie-Thérèse
L-2132 Luxemburg
Tél : +352 44 743 558
Fax : +352 44 743 559
acat.luxembourg@pt.lu
ACAT Netherlands
Woudsenderraklaan 190
NL - 3544 PZ Utrecht - Netherlands
Tél : +31(0)30 29 64 297
info@acatnederland.nl
ACAT Czech Republic *
Pohorelec 26,
CZ-118 00 Praha
Czech Republic
Tél : +420 220 515 407
acatpraha@seznam.cz
ACAT Royaume Uni
8 Southfield
Saltash, Cornwall PL12 4LX
Royaume-Uni
Tél : +44 17 52 84 34 17
uk.acat@gmail.com
ACAT Switzerland
Speichergasse 29
Case Postale 5011
CH- 3001 Berne - Switzerland
Tél : +41 31 312 20 44
Fax : +41 31 312 58 11
info@acat.ch
* Not yet affiliated associations
22