Pristina, November 10, 2023 – The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (MKPT), within the Ombudsperson’s Institution, participated in the 14th international conference of Human Rights Institutions. The conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the theme “Torture and other forms of ill-treatment – the role of the National Institution for Human Rights”.

The representatives of the conference were divided into working groups, with the aim of gathering information from each participating country and finding best practices. The work of MKPT was presented by the director, Mrs. Shqipe Ibraj Mala, since its establishment and the work methodology. Also, during the proceedings of the conference, the participants were informed about the local and international cooperation that MKPT has.

Representatives of countries from Ukraine, Denmark, Australia, Albania, Palestine, Uganda, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Armenia, Egypt, Tunisia, India, Kenya, Colombia, Philippines, Togo, Chile, Zambia, Canada participated in this conference. They presented the practices of their country, the challenges and possibilities of the operation of the Institution for Human Rights and in particular the work of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture.

The proceedings of the Conference ended with the adoption of the Copenhagen Declaration, which calls on states to prohibit torture and other forms of ill-treatment as an absolute right. Torture is prohibited under any circumstances!

The conference was co-organized by the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights (UPCHR), the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The conference was held on these dates, from 6th to 8th of November, in order to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the 30th anniversary of the Paris Principles.