The draft Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment aims to create a global inspection system for places of detention as a way of preventing torture and ill-treatment. This document provides an overview of the draft Optional Protocol: its history, some of its key components, and Amnesty International’s position on a number of contested issues in the text. It also suggests ways in which non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others might wish to work towards a strong Protocol.
