NT Legislation, international standards and national policies relevant to implementation are set out below.
Legal framework
Northern Territory
- Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture) Act 2018 - Summary PDF (233.0 KB)
- Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture) Amendment Act 2022 (yet to commence).
International
- Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment PDF (88.1 KB)
- Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) PDF (372.2 KB)
- United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules) PDF (588.5 KB)
Policy framework
NPMs complement existing oversight frameworks. They do not seek to replace established systems but rather enhance complementary monitoring to achieve OPCAT compliance.
The Australian Human Rights Commission's Implementing OPCAT in Australia (2020) provides a comprehensive overview of what implementation will entail at national level in order to meet international best practice standards.
The NT Ombudsman will work together with the Office of the Children's Commissioner and the NT Community Visitor Program in the development of a preventive monitoring framework specific to the characteristics and impacted vulnerable groups of the Northern Territory.
Development of the framework and visiting methodologies will draw on relevant human rights expertise locally and nationally, civil society engagement, engagement with Aboriginal communities, organisations and experts, people with relevant lived experience, agency involvement and any other relevant stakeholders.