PRISCCA cheered by drafting of Anti-torture Bill

The announcement by the Human Rights Commission that it has started the process of drafting the Anti-torture Bill to operationalise the prohibition of acts of torture and other cruel inhuman treatment has cheered the Prisons Care and Counseling Association (PRISCCA).

Executive Director Godfrey Malembeka says there is need for Zambia to domesticate the United Nations Convention against torture (CAT) so that officers who torture suspects can be taken to task.

Mr. Malembeka says the Bill of Rights in the constitution is weak in its current form to be able to take to task Police or prison officers who torture suspects or inmates.

He says this is why his organization is advocating for the passage of the Bill of Rights so that it will be easy to criminalize torture in the country.

Mr. Malembeka has since encouraged Zambians to support the move by the Human Rights Commission to come up with an anti-torture bill because torture is a hindrance to human rights development in Zambia.