Instance Nationale pour la Prévention de la Torture

Summary

The INPT is Tunisia's OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism, established by Loi organique n° 2013-43 of 21 October 2013. It comprises 16 members elected by a three-fifths majority of the legislative commission for staggered six-year terms from civil society, medical, legal, and human-rights fields — no serving law-enforcement officers. Members have the statutory right to conduct unannounced visits to any place of deprivation of liberty at any time, access all registers, records, and documentation held at those facilities, and interview detainees and staff confidentially. The INPT may issue recommendations and request criminal or administrative investigations, but has no direct discipline authority; it refers findings to the prosecutor or the relevant agency. Its budget is a legislative line item and it publishes mandatory annual and thematic reports without executive pre-clearance. Tunisia is the first North Africa / Middle East state to establish a standalone NPM.