Comité Nacional de Prevención contra la Tortura, Tratos Crueles, Inhumanos o Degradantes
CONAPREV
Summary
CONAPREV is Honduras's National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) established by Decreto Legislativo 136-2008 to fulfil the state's obligations under OPCAT. It consists of three commissioners: one appointed by the Executive Power, one by the National Congress, and one representing civil society organizations. The body has administrative, technical, and budgetary autonomy (Art. 7) and is mandated to periodically and preventively visit all places of deprivation of liberty — including National Police lock-ups, military detention facilities, the national penitentiary system, immigration centers, juvenile facilities, and psychiatric hospitals — to prevent torture and cruel treatment. CONAPREV has unrestricted, unannounced access to all detention facilities, may conduct private interviews with any person deprived of liberty, and may review all relevant documentation. It issues recommendations to competent authorities and publishes reports, but has no disciplinary authority over police or prison staff. The civil-society seat has been the subject of political obstruction in recent years, undermining the civilian mandate in practice.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Mixed (multi-branch) |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Ley del Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención contra la Tortura y otros tratos Crueles, Inhumanos o Degradantes
- Citation
- Decreto Legislativo 136-2008, published La Gaceta, reformed by Decreto 356-2013 and amended May 2014
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All places of deprivation of liberty in Honduras, including National Police detention facilities, military holding centers, prisons and pre-trial detention centers administered by the national penitentiary system, immigration detention, juvenile detention, and psychiatric institutions; mandate flows from the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), ratified by Honduras in 1997, and implemented via Decreto Legislativo 136-2008.