KATHMANDU, June 26: The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is being observed today in various countries of the world with an objective to achieve global commitment to a total end to torture, protection of victims, access to justice and rehabilitation.
On December 12, 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
According to the UN, torture is a crime under international law. As per all relevant instruments, torture is absolutely prohibited and cannot be justified under any circumstances.
The systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity. The observance serves as a call to action for all stakeholders including UN Member States, civil society, and individuals everywhere to unite in support of the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who have been victims of torture and those who are still tortured today. There is no excuse for the use of torture, according to the UN.
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Torture destroys the victim's personality and negates the intrinsic dignity of the human being. Although international law absolutely prohibits torture, it continues to occur around the world.
"There is an increase in the use of torture worldwide. It's partly correlated to the fact that we have more wars going on in this world since 1945. The International Committee of the Red Cross says there are 100 armed conflicts currently going on. And regrettably, with armed conflict comes an uptick in the use of torture and other forms of inhuman treatment,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards.
Although the pretext of safeguarding national security and borders is frequently employed to justify torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, the extensive impact of torture often extends beyond the individual act, potentially perpetuating cycles of violence across generations, according to the UN.
Stating that prompt, effective and specialized programmes are required for rehabilitation of victim survivors, the UN shared that rehabilitation centres and organisations operated across the world have been playing significant role to make transition from horror to healing.
The UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, administered by the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva is a unique victim-focused mechanism that channels funding for the assistance to victims of torture and their families.
Established in 1981 the Fund has been providing legal, social, humanitarian, psychological and medical services to persons deprived of liberty, children and adolescents, refugees and migrants, victims of enforced disappearance, indigenous peoples, victims of sexual and gender-based violence and LGBTI persons, among others.
A message of UN Secretary-General António Guterres on this Day reads that torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed.
He also called the international community to adopt zero tolerance policy against torture.
