Special Fund of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture

OPCAT SPECIAL FUND

The OPCAT Special Fund was established pursuant to article 26 of the Optional Protocol, to help finance the implementation of the recommendations made by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter “the SPT”) after a visit to a State party to the Optional Protocol, as well as education programmes of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs).

The Fund is administered by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and receives voluntary contributions from governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other private or public entities.

The OPCAT Special Fund accepts project applications aimed at implementing recommendations made by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) after a visit to a State party, provided these recommendations are contained in a report that has become public by the request of the State party.

Applications may be submitted by State Parties who requested the SPT to publish their country visit reports and their National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM). In addition, applications may be submitted by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI), which are compliant with the Paris Principles, and by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), in particular if the proposed projects are implemented in cooperation with State Parties and/or NPMs.

The Fund became operational in the summer 2011, with the first Call for Applications launched in November 2011 and the first cycle of projects approved during 2012.  For further information on the projects approved under the Call for Applications – 2012, click here  

If you are interested in learning more about the Call for Applications 2013, please click here in E, F and S to be directed to the Guidelines for Applications to the Special Fund of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture 2013.

Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Fund Manager at opcatfund@ohchr.org