On 1st April 1997, when I started as Europe programme Officer with the APT I would never have thought that I would leave 27 years later as Secretary general.
The APT was negotiating the Draft Optional Protocol. My job was to promote the great work by the CPT that was visiting places of detention in Europe since 1989 (and developed standards ie on safeguards from the moment of arrest).
9/11 shook the world. APT and a coalition of States and NGOs managed to get the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture adopted by the UN General Assembly (by vote) in 2002.
Meanwhile, I got married, had a boy and a girl and when I was pregnant of my third child decided to resign. Mark Thomson, the then SG proposed a sabbatical leave instead and I took the offer.
So in 2005, with 3 small children I came back as Detention Monitoring Programme Officer to an organisation I knew and loved.
My children were still not so happy with my travels. Once, the 3 of them (9, 6 and 3 years old) organised a demonstration shouting 'A mort l'APT'.
In 2009, after some hesitation (should I stay or should I go?), I applied to the new position of Chief of Operations and got the job. I loved supporting the regional and thematic programmes (2011 OPCAT Forum). In 2012, the APT moved to the new Centre Jean-Jacques Gautier.
My children were growing, in 2 houses since our separation, and still found I worked too much. On Mother's Day I once received a poem starting with
'Mum, where are you?
In Panama
Mum, where are you?
In Canada'...
In July 2018, when Mark Thomson decided to retire, I was appointed SG. I thought my management experience as Chief of Operations was strong enough. I was wrong. With a deficit accumulating for some years, I faced a steep learning curve in financial management, fundraising and human resources. We were a management team of 3 in the first year and then I worked with a Deputy from 2020. We had to take tough decisions and downsize. Then, the Covid pandemic hit. We had to adapt but we responded to the challenge. I got sick during the second wave in Oct 2020 with some serious effects in 2021.
But APT was doing better. We managed to regain the trust of donors. We transformed the organisation and could hire again. Leading the APT during that time was exciting but challenging. I learned a lot about leadership, the importance of a clear strategic vision, the importance of communication and of emotional intelligence. I made some mistakes too. But driven by APT values and approach to prevention through dialogue, partnership and cocreation, we have been able to contribute to change. There is still so much more to do for the APT and its partners in prevention. But the APT is up for it.
It was a long and incredible journey encountering so many inspiring people.
I leave the organisation proud of what I and the APT have achieved.
And my adult children are proud too.
Outgoing Secretary General Barbara Bernath bids farewell to APT after a remarkable 27-year career, including 6 years at the helm. She reflects on her journey, expressing deep gratitude to colleagues, NPMs, NHRIs, authorities, and both international and local partners who inspired her along the way.
Barbara acknowledges the organisation’s significant transformation during her tenure and extends her best wishes to incoming Secretary General Nicole Hogg, confident in APT’s continued mission to prevent torture and ill-treatment worldwide. Barbara's leadership will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire.
