17 October 2000

AI Index AFR 53/02/2000 - News Service Nr 200

Media Advisory

Three Amnesty International delegates are visiting South Africa between 16 and 24 October 2000, in connection with Amnesty International’s launch this week of its international Campaign Against Torture. The delegates include:

- Professor Rod Morgan, professor of Criminal Justice in the Faculty of Law at the University of Bristol, an adviser to the UK Home Office on policing and justice issues and an adviser to the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture;

- Mr Hilaire Sobers, an attorney-at-law in Jamaica who specialises in cases involving alleged misconduct by law enforcement agents arising particularly in the context of public concern over high crime levels;

- Dr Mary Rayner, a researcher in the Africa Program at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.

During their visit, Amnesty’s representatives will seek to meet a range of people including government and police officials, statutory oversight bodies, civil society organizations and victims of torture and other human rights violations.

In the light of past human rights concerns, the delegates will seek to gain a better understanding of the South African Government’s current priorities for law enforcement agencies, the training provided for police relevant to their law enforcement duties, and the measures and procedures in place to ensure effective accountability in cases where human rights violations allegedly occur.

Members of Amnesty International-South Africa will be involved in the campaign against Torture in the form of various activities around the country.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Mary Rayner, cellphone +27 82 858 6654

AI-South Africa , National Office, Tel: + 27 12 320 81 55

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For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566

Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW web : http://www.amnesty.org