Presentation of the Candidates to the United Nations Committee Against Torture

Event

Elections to the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) will take place on 1 October 2025. Five seats are available, and as of 5 August 2025 ten candidates (6 men and 4 women), have been nominated by the States Parties to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

To promote strengthening of the membership, transparency around the elections, and equal opportunity, our Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) will hold a virtual dialogue amongst interested candidates and the States Parties, with Amnesty International, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, GQUAL, the International Federation of ACATs, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the International Service for Human Rights, REDRESS, Omega Research Foundation, and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT).

A questionnaire, with input from civil society organisations engaging with the CAT, will be circulated to all nominees, in order to gather more information about the candidates’ merits, satisfaction of the requirements, and their views on current and future contribution to the CAT’s work. The answers will be available on OMCT and IRCT’s websites from one week prior to the presentation of the candidates.

Welcome Remarks

• Antti Korkeakivi, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR

Moderation

• Helena Solà, Director of Anti-Torture Programme Anti-Torture Programme, OMCT
• Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, GHRP

Panelists

All candidates are invited to present themselves, followed by a Q&A session with the diplomatic community.

More information about the event will follow.

Access

Registration

Please register here to participate in this online event.