The department specifically aims at challenging impunity for torture in Nepal in general and prevention of torture pervasive in government detention facilities in particular. It advocates for the application of international and regional standards prohibiting torture and effective implementation of and reforms on existing legislation on torture. It submits information, cases, reports to relevant international and national bodies like the UN special Rapporteur on torture, the UN Committee against torture, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN working group on Arbitrary Detention, OMCAT, Association for Prevention of Torture (APT), Asian Human Rights Commission, National Human Rights Commission and human rights cells of Nepal Police and Nepal Army. The department organizes regular sectoral meetings and consultations with judges, police and public prosecutors to seek avenues of ironing out the inherent contradictions and loopholes in the criminal justice system in Nepal.

Based on the idea that regular and unannounced visits to all places of detention are one of the most powerful tools to prevent torture and ill-treatment the custody monitoring team of the department visits detention centers in the districts in which AF operates.  AF lawyers visit governmental detention facilities (metropolitan police circle; district-level police stations; ward police offices and Forestry Department Detention Centers) on a regular basis to observe the situation of detainees, interview them and document their cases. AF has developed a detailed questionnaire to record relevant information on a person's detention, to support and defend the individual's case as well as to challenge any illegal practices by the authorities. AF visits 65 detention centers in 18 districts across Nepal regularly documenting, questioning and challenging the routine practice of torture and illegal detention. 

Please see Annual Report for detailed activities of the department.