International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture

The International Federation of ACAT (FIACAT) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) for the defence of human rights whose mandate is to fight for the abolition of torture and of the death penalty.[1] It was formed on 8 February 1987 under French law, and is based in Paris, France.

ACAT is the acronym for Action des chrétiens pour l'abolition de la torture (“Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture”).

The network

FIACAT was created by 10 ACATs on 8 February 1987. It currently comprises thirty national affiliated ACATs, including:

  • Belgium
  • Benin
  • Brésil
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Liberia
  • Luxembourg
  • Madagascar
  • Mali
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Togo
  • United Kingdom
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Senegal
  • United States of America

International representation

FIACAT represents the national ACATs before the international and regional bodies. FIACAT has consultative status before the United Nations (UN) and International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), participative status at the Council of Europe and observer status before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

FIACAT also works in close collaboration with other non-governmental organisations for the defence of human rights as well as the Churches and religious congregations.

Managing the network

FIACAT contributes to the active life of the ACAT network by promoting exchanges between the different groups, by proposing joint activities or campaigns as well as regional or international training courses.

FIACAT helps the national ACATs to structure their work, to become competent and effective in the campaign for the abolition of torture and the death penalty, to be actors in civil society capable of transforming or influencing the mentality and structures of their country, starting with the Christian communities and the Churches.

Publications

FIACAT has a website that enables the thirty national member ACATs to make known their aims and activities. Some ACATs also have their own sites.

FIACAT also publishes:

  • FIACAT News, which periodically reports on activities of FIACAT members. Three numbers were published in 2009.
  • FIACAT Newsletter, which regularly publishes information on FIACAT member activities.

Structure and functioning

FIACAT is a non-profit-making organisation under French law. The work of the international secretariat, composed of three people, is supervised by an International Bureau elected by the international Council which every four years brings together the delegates of the member associations of the network and establishes the broad orientation of the organization.

Financing

FIACAT is financed by contributions from member ACATs, as well as from individuals, NGOs and governments.

References
  1. Amnesty article on UN Convention against Torture campaigned for by FIACAT
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