The following is a statement made at the beginning of the meeting indicating the manner in which the workshop is to be conducted
This workshop will be conducted in the same manner that the other workshops of AHRC, ALRC have been conducted in the last five years. Such workshops are not lecturing sessions. Essentially the workshop is conducted like a brainstorming session. The idea is to avoid repeating generally known ideas and facts and to enter into discussion on areas where there are doubts requiring clarity.
From the start, that is from the session on orientation and personal introduction, the participants are encouraged to come out with the problems that they have faced in trying to achieve the aims related to the theme under discussion. In this instance the theme is the prevention of Torture and the other Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and each participant will have his or her own experiences in trying to pursue this aim and the various difficulties faced in doing so. The workshop will be a success to the extent that these personal experiences are brought out, listened to and thoroughly discussed. Some working programs for the future can emerge only if the actual difficulties are surfaced during these discussions.
After the orientation and personal introduction, some basic areas that need to be studied will be identified. This initial identification is only for the purpose of initiating the discussion. As the discussion proceeds new issues are likely to emerge and these will be incorporated with the issues initially identified.
A part of the approach in these sessions is to delve into the issues as thoroughly as possible. Thus making of statements will not suffice. The group will have to scrutinize such statements from the point of view of their experiences.
At the end of each day the organizers will make a summary of the discussion which took place during the day and make such summaries available by the next day. This practice helps to avoid repetition as well as to go into more in-depth discussions completing the reflections begun on the previous day.
From time to time the group will identify panels from among the participants for discussion of one or the other issue that is identified as needing more thorough reflection. The panel will consist of persons who have a greater knowledge on the particular issue identified. The participants can then respond to the views expressed by the panelists.
Towards the last two days of the workshop, a considerable consensus is expected to emerge on some basic areas related to the theme. These ideas will be developed by way of final statement, which can be shared with others and used to influence opinion on the issue. Thus the workshop is not merely a session for clarification of ideas among the participants, but is also a pedagogical session where materials will be prepared for sharing with others in campaigns for promoting action against torture, inhuman and degrading punishment.
Usually in the course of such intense discussions many ideas emerge for future action. This type of meeting also helps to bring closer links among the participants. Such links help to bring about a new network for action and collaboration.
Though the workshop discussions bear a very spontaneous character, they also are accompanied by very serious reflections.
