African Torture Prevention Network Embraces Digital Innovation to Strengthen Prison Monitoring and Human Rights Protection
The African Network of National Preventive Mechanisms Against Torture (ANPMN) has committed to harnessing digital technology to transform prison monitoring, strengthen communication among member institutions, and enhance the protection of the rights of detainees, with a particular focus on women and children.
The African Network of National Preventive Mechanisms Against Torture (ANPMN) has resolved to accelerate the use of digital technology as a key tool for monitoring places of detention, improving institutional collaboration, and reinforcing efforts to prevent torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment across the continent.
The commitment was announced on June 26, 2026, at the conclusion of the Network’s Fourth General Assembly, a three-day meeting held in Kigali under the theme: “Preventing Torture Against Women and Children in Places of Detention.”
The gathering brought together experts responsible for implementing international obligations requiring States to establish preventive mechanisms against torture and other forms of abuse in detention facilities.
Representatives from Rwanda, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Mauritania shared experiences on how technology is currently being used to support human rights monitoring. They highlighted a range of digital tools, including social media platforms and other communication technologies, while acknowledging the need to expand and strengthen their use.
One of the meeting’s key resolutions was the implementation of a recently completed feasibility study proposing the establishment of a digital platform to support inspections of detention facilities and facilitate the monitoring of compliance with human rights standards.
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The proposal received strong backing from participating countries. OPCAT expert Machonova Schellongova Ivana welcomed the initiative, expressing confidence that it could be implemented in the near future.
Participants were also informed that a regional training workshop will be held on August 11, 2026, to encourage countries in Southern Africa to ratify and effectively implement international anti-torture instruments through the strategic use of digital technology.
The resolutions adopted in Kigali reflect ANPMN’s growing determination to leverage innovation in strengthening human rights protection, improving oversight of detention facilities, and promoting a more coordinated African response to the prevention of torture.
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