Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Agadir – The Moroccan human right expert Abderrazak Rouwane was elected as the UN Committee Rapporteur against Torture on Monday during the opening of its 84th session in Geneva.
According to the official meeting summary issued by the UN human rights treaty bodies, the session, held in Geneva from 13 April to 1 May, saw the election of its new Bureau members for the 2026–2027 period
As Rapporteur, Rouwane will be part of the Committee’s Bureau responsible for supporting the coordination of the committee’s work during the session, which includes reviewing state reports, examining individual complaints, and preparing concluding observations related to the implementation of the Convention against Torture.
The Committee against Torture is a body of independent experts within the UN human rights system.
It monitors how states implement the Convention against Torture, which is an international treaty that prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Mahamane Cisse-Gouro, Director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division said that “the committee played a vital role in the international human rights system, especially amid rising global crises and conflicts.”
The committee carries out several key functions, including examining state reports to track the application of the treaty in law and practice, and reviewing complaints and allegations from individuals who claim their rights under the Convention were violated.
The committee also emphasized conducting inquiries in serious cases, such as addressing women’s access to justice, which was the main focus of the committee last month.
“Its work highlighted that torture and ill-treatment persisted, committed by both States and armed groups. Emphasis was placed on prevention, accountability, and ensuring victims had access to justice and reparations,” UN said in a press release.
