This study presents the key findings of a regional expert meeting on torture held in collaboration with the Asian Human Rights Commission (ACHR) in Hong Kong in 2011. The meeting brought together practitioners from a number of countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The discussions focused on structural factors, such as legislative deficiencies, weak institutions and impunity, which perpetuate torture as well as on strategic responses, including documentation, litigation and advocacy. This study presents the findings in relation to patterns of torture and common challenges experienced in the region, together with a number of detailed country studies based on contributions by participants and supplementary research.
