RESOLUTION ON GUIDELINES AND MEASURES FOR THE PROHIBITION AND PREVENTION OF TORTURE, CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT IN AFRICA GUIDELINES AND MEASURES FOR THE PROHIBITION AND PREVENTION OF TORTURE, CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT IN AFRICA THE ROBBEN ISLAND GUIDELINES Preamble Recalling the universal condemnation and prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment; Deeply concerned about the continued prevalence of such acts; Convinced of the urgency of addressing the problem in all its dimensions; Recognising the need to take positive steps to further the implementation of existing provisions on the prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment; Recognising the importance of preventive measures in the furtherance of these aims; Recognising the special needs of victims of such acts; Recalling the provisions of: - Art. 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which prohibits all forms of exploitation and degradation of man, particularly slavery, slave trade, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment; - Art. 45 (1) of the African Charter which mandates the African Commission to, inter alia, formulate and lay down principles and rules aimed at solving legal problems relating to human and peoples’ rights and fundamental freedoms upon which African Governments may base their legislations; - Arts. 3 and 4 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union by which States Parties undertake to promote and respect the sanctity of human life, rule of law, good governance and democratic principles; THE ROBBEN ISLAND GUIDELINES 03