The United Nations Sub Committee on Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) has elected a Nigerian; the Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Dr Uju Agomoh as its member.
In a statement issued in Abuja by PRAWA, Dr. Agomoh was successfully elected on Thursday, 20th October, 2022 in Geneva.
The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) is the international body established by the OPCAT. Consisting of 25 independent experts. It has a preventive mandate focused on a proactive approach to preventing torture and ill treatment.
The SPT has a dual mandate to monitor conditions in detention and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty through country visits; and to advise on OPCAT implementation, in particular support the establishing and functioning of National Preventive Mechanisms.
According to the statement, Dr. Uju Agomoh is the Founder and Executive Director of PRAWA, a Nigerian civil society organisation which promotes human rights for people in prison and helps those who’ve survived prison to successfully integrate into the community.
Agomoh holds degrees in Law, Criminology, and Psychology which makes her strongly positioned to contribute to the work of the SPT through a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.
“Over the past 20 years, Dr Agomoh has held key positions in global, regional and national institutions working to prevent torture through detention monitoring, security sector reform and support to survivors of torture.
“These include serving on the Executive Committee of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT); the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Global SOS-Torture Covid 19 Crisis Action Group; and the Independent Investigation Panel of Inquiry on the Nigeria Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS),” the statement said.
Dr Agomoh has personally carried out over 1000 prison monitoring visits covering about 150 prisons in 32 countries providing her with extensive expertise in detention monitoring methodologies and engagement with detention authorities and detainees.
“We have full confidence in the capacity of Dr Uju Agomoh to deliver on this very important assignment.
“Dr Agomoh has National and International experiences on Torture prevention. She was:
• Member – Independent Investigation Panel of Inquiry on Nigeria Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) alleged human rights violation (2020 – 2022),” the statement noted
“She was a Council Member of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission and the Special Rapporteur on Police, Prisons and Centers of Detention (2001 – 2008), Co-Chair- Development Law Group (DLG) of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (2021 – 2023), Co-lead in the development of the harmonized curriculum for security agencies training institutions in Nigeria including on Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Civil -Military Relations, Led the development of National Legal Aid Strategy of Nigeria 2016-2022,” the statement added.
She has also conducted visits to places of detention in more than 32 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America; is a
Fellow, International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF) with a specific focus on overuse of imprisonment and fairness and consistency in administrative and judicial decisions (2017 to present); is an Expert, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), on development of guidelines on rehabilitation of prisoners (2017); was a Visiting Expert on treatment of women prisoners, United Nations Asia and Far East (UNAFEI) (2015) ; a Member, Executive Committee (Representing Sub Saharan Africa), International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) (2012-2016) and a Member- World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Global SOS-Torture Covid 19 Crisis Action Group (September 2021-December 2022).
