Defensores, the new complaint system against torture

As part of TEDIC’s commitment to the defense of Human Rights, we have launched the mobile platform and application: Defensores. This initiative, carried out jointly with the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NMP), the Ministry of Public Defense (MPD) of Paraguay, and with the support of the Accelerating Fund of The Latin American Alliance for Civic Technology (LACiT) is the result of The alliance between Luminate Group and Fundación Avina, and it seeks to document, systematize and visualize different situations, cases of torture and abuse against persons deprived of liberty in Paraguay.

This project marks a regional precedent of work and articulation between the State and civil society for the defense of human rights against torture. It will be the first platform that systematizes and allows to visualize cases of torture, cruel and inhuman treatment in Paraguay according to the application of the Istanbul Protocol (Manual of Investigation and Effective Documentation on Torture, Punishments and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatments), and we hope that later could be an example to be replicated by other countries.

The realization of the platform had a work process of around 18 months to determine and implement the needs and forms of work of the Public Defenders of the MDP. With a mobile application and a web system, it seeks to generate better communication bridges between the State, its officials and citizens in the complaint and systematization of cases of torture. In addition, it allows the generation of graphs, maps and statistical tables to better analyze the problem and take appropriate measures to eliminate this type of practice. To all this was added the creation of information distribution materials to sensitize the general public about how they are working to eradicate torture in our country.

The Defensores project then has two main components:

First, a mobile application for Public Defenders to report complaints about torture in a digital and standardized way. This application is based on an official form already used by the MDP a year ago. It seeks to facilitate and improve the process of collecting complaints and their subsequent systematization and analysis.

And second, is the web platform that is also available to citizens in general, whose main component is a map with allegations of torture throughout the country. It also has teaching materials that seek to raise awareness about the protection of human rights and generate recommendations against cases of torture. These materials include explanatory brochures as well as audio cases in podcast format with some accounts of victims of torture.

In TEDIC we believe that a record of allegations of torture, cruel and inhuman treatment that is available to the public can raise awareness among the authorities and citizens about the serious situation that the country is going through and promote actions to eradicate these types of practices. In addition, this project will leave a replicable history of the use of technology to guarantee the protection of human rights for the rest of the region.

More info: www.defensores.mdp.gov.py