OMCT

World Organization Against Torture

Global network fighting against torture and other humans rights violations
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Bringing about change through action files and other forms of intervention

The purpose of OMCT urgent appeals and action files is to halt or prevent torture or other forms of violence within OMCT’s mandate[1]. This is done by calling for preventive and/or remedial action in relation to situations, policies or projects involving violations of economic, social and cultural rights that cause violence or that present a real and substantial risk of causing violence. This includes calling on governments or others to take protective action in relation to vulnerable groups or situations.

Violations of economic, social and cultural rights that lead or risk leading to violence occur in many varied circumstances that require appropriate reactions. Some involve immediate violence that requires OMCT to react rapidly with, for example, an urgent appeal aimed at saving lives. Urgent appeals can also take the form of an open letter or press communiqué.

Other situations require in-depth research and analysis of the factual, technical, legal and other aspects of the case and detailed preparation of recommended action. Because of the extensive nature of the information, analysis and recommendations in these cases, they are prepared in the form of OMCT Action Files. Action files seek to identify as clearly as possible the respective responsibilities of governments, development institutions, private companies and banks in situations that involve or risk serious violence. Action files also contain precise recommendations for action by those involved that can be monitored.

Urgent appeals and action files are prepared in cooperation with reliable national NGOs including members of the OMCT SOS-Torture Network. They are sent to the competent United Nations Special Procedures mandate holders[2] and to government authorities with direct responsibility. In addition, international financial and development institutions, trans-national corporations and banks are seized when they are involved in projects that cause or risk causing violence.

Urgent appeals and action files are also sent to the 311 members of the SOS-Torture Network and other NGOs belonging OMCT’s network on economic, social and cultural rights along with requests for action on their part. In addition, the information and recommendations developed in connection with these interventions can be included in alternative reports and submitted to other procedures, for example the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of respect for human rights by UN Member States and to the institutions of the European Union. OMCT follows-up on these interventions to monitor action or renew the appeal.

An important objective of urgent appeals and action files is to give voice on the international level to marginalised and vulnerable communities and groups that might otherwise remain unheard. Cases are selected based on a number of criteria including the severity of the threat, the number of persons affected, the quality of information submitted or the possibility of developing good information in cooperation with the national partner, the potential for bringing about change (including the existence of a UN mandate or mandates or other procedure that would be willing to act on the information) and factors such as the sensitivity to pressure of the government, the international development/financial institutions or private actors involved. The importance as a test case and as a good example for others to follow is also taken into consideration. Other elements such as geographic balance are taken into account, but are not determinant.

Action files

During the period 2007 to March 2010, OMCT issued 17 action files relating to the economic, social and cultural root causes of violence as listed below. All are available on OMCT’s economic, social and cultural rights website (http://escr.omct.org).

2010

2009

2008

2007

Urgent appeals

During the period 2007 to December 2009, OMCT issued 18 urgent appeals relating to the economic, social and cultural root causes of violence as listed below. All are available on OMCT’s economic, social and cultural rights website (http://escr.omct.org).

2009

2008

2007

Selected action files and appeals are translated into Arabic, French and Spanish.

For information on the impact of action files and urgent appeals, see Report on implementing OMCT’s Project, Preventing torture and other forms of violence by acting on their economic, social and cultural roots causes: January 2007 to March 2010.


1. OMCT’s mandate includes torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, summary or arbitrary executions, forced disappearances, violence against women and violence against children.

2. United Nations Special Procedures mandates deal with a wide range of issues including violence against women, trafficking in persons, migrants, racism, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, mercenaries and private security forces, minority issues, internally displaced persons, indigenous people, independence of judges and lawyers, human rights defenders, the right to health, the right to food, freedom of opinion and expression, extrajudicial and summary executions, the sale of children, arbitrary detention and enforced or involuntary disappearances. In urgent cases these procedures can intervene rapidly with Governments. For the latest list see www.ohchr.org


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