According to the Human Rights House Network Website, People Against Torture (PAT) is one of seven Kenyan human rights organizations that will share office space in a building called Human Rights House which is scheduled for construction following the 2002 presidential elections (HRHN n.d.a). The other organizations sharing the building will be the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Center for Law and Research International (CLARION), Release Political Prisoners (RPP), Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), and the Child Rights Advisory and Legal Center (CRADLE) (ibid.). According to the Website, construction of the building will be funded by the Human Rights House Foundation in Norway and donors from five other countries including Canada, have expressed an interest (ibid.).

For an overview of PAT including its history, context in which their members work, membership and staffing, contact details, vision, mandate, mission, objectives, and organizational structure, please consult the attached summary.

Regarding PAT's activities, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) Website includes an announcement of activities for "UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture" on 26 June 2002, that states the following:

People Against Torture in Kenya will arrange a high profile symposium, a road show, and a music show with the famous band "them mushrooms" in Nairobi. Activities will also be arranged in Nakuru, Kitale, Mombasa and Kisii under PAT's sponsorship. In addition, a press conference will be held on 24 June to launch the weeklong activities. It is the third consecutive year that People Against Torture have dedicated a week against torture around 26 June with a range of activities involving more than 10 human rights organisations. This year, the activities will be supported by SIDA, Sweden (16 Oct. 2002).

In a letter published in the Daily Nation on 19 April 2001, Kang'ethe Mungai, Co-ordinator of PAT, announced the establishment of a Litigation Fund Against Torture that would be accessible to "[o]rganisations, lawyers and individuals who need to sue people or institutions responsible for torture." In addition, three reports of PAT protesting in support of individual human rights were found among the sources consulted (IRIN 24 July 2002; AP 8 Feb. 2002; KTN TV 10 Dec. 2000).

Additional information on PAT's membership procedures and information on how the organization is treated by authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Associated Press (AP). 8 February 2002. Rob Jillo. "Inquest Finds Kenyan Prison Wardens Responsible for Deaths of Six Prisoners." (Associated Press World Stream/NEXIS)

Daily Nation. [Nairobi]. 19 April 2001. Kang'ethe Mungai. "Good News for Torture Victims." http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/19042001/Letters/Letters20.html [Accessed 24 Oct. 2002]

Human Rights House Network (HRHN). n.d.a. "Human Rights House in Kenya." http://www.humanrightshouse.org/network/new_houses/kenya.htm [Accessed 24 Oct. 2002]

_____. n.d.b. "People Against Torture." http://www.humanrightshouse.org/network/new_houses/kenya_pat.htm [Accessed 30 Oct. 2002]

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 24 July 2002. "Kenya; Compensation Talks Underway for Paralysed Journalist." (Africa News/NEXIS)

International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). 16 October 2002. "Together Against Torture: UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture - 26 June 2002." http://www.irct.org/26June/2002%20campaign/activities/kenya.htm [Accessed 24 Oct. 2002]

Kenyan Television Network (KTN) [Nairobi]. 10 December 2000. "Opposition Politicians, Rights Group Condemn Police Violence." (BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 12 Dec. 2000/NEXIS)

Human Rights House Network (HRHN). n.d. "People Against Torture." http://www.humanrightshouse.org/network/new_houses/kenya_pat.htm [Accessed 30 Oct. 2002]

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Unsuccessful attempts to reach People Against Torture, Amnesty International and other oral sources.

Internet sites including:

Africa Confidential

Africa Files

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

Amnesty International (AI)

Amnesty International's Stop Torture Campaign

Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)

BBC Africa

The Daily Nation

East African Standard

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Integrated Regional International Network (IRIN)

International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH)

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Physicians for Human Rights - Denmark

World News Connection (WNC)

World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)

Search engine:

Google