Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights held a regional workshop on "Torture-Free Trade in North Africa", from August 29-31, 2024, in cooperation with Committee for Prevention of Torture of African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, in partnership with Omega Research Foundation and funded by European Union.

The workshop was attended by several United Nations experts and active participants in the field of human rights, including representatives from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, as well as legal experts and civil society representatives from North African countries, including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Sudan.
Over the three-day workshop, various sessions focused on torture-free trade, the challenges faced, and best practices. Maat concluded the workshop by signing the founding declaration of North African Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, which comprises civil society organizations from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, with plans to include Mauritania and Sudan.

This Alliance aims to promote African Commission Resolution 472 to ban trade in torture instruments in Africa, as well as provide technical and technological assistance to all stakeholders involved in torture-free trade in a manner that supports their commitment to supporting relevant international and regional efforts.
This project underscores Maat pivotal role as a leading Egyptian, African, and Arab civil society organization dedicated to knowledge building and raising awareness of African regional resolutions that prohibit the trade in torture tools. Maat also serves as an observer member of African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.