International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26/06)

«Torture — is a manifestation of the disgusting desire to break a person’s will. On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, I urge all states to end impunity for those who torture people and eradicate these heinous acts that challenge our common humanity» (From the message of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres).

In 1997, on the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council, the UN General Assembly, by its resolution 52/149 of December 12, proclaimed June 26 as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

This day is held with the aim of eradicating torture and ensuring the effective functioning of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force on 26 June 1987. To date, the Convention has been ratified by 162 countries.

Torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on any person in order to obtain information or confession from him or a third party, to punish him for an act which he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, and to intimidate or coerce him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any nature.

Torture is a crime in accordance with the principles of international law. All relevant instruments strictly prohibit torture and cannot be justified under any circumstances. And no exceptional circumstances, whatever they may be, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other state of emergency, can justify torture.

An order from a superior or public authority cannot justify torture.

Back in 1948, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly, the international community condemned torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In 1975, thanks to the active work of non-governmental organizations, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In subsequent years, other documents were adopted to take specific measures to prohibit torture.

Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.

Timely specialized programs are needed to recover from post-traumatic conditions as a result of torture. The activities of rehabilitation centres around the world show that victims of torture may begin to forget the suffering they have experienced in order to be fully healed.

Also within the framework of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, there is the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, which deals with the problems of victims of torture by distributing funds to help such people and their families.

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