United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, June 26, 2012

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

With the support of the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the May 18 Memorial Foundation of the Republic of South Korea, the Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) and its Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture (H2H) in collaboration with Human Rights Alert (HRA) and the Department of Clinical Psychology of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) concluded today a four-day training workshop for practitioners "ROAD TO PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND REHABILITATION IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS".

The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (United Nations Convention against Torture) is an international human rights instrument, under the review of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture around the world. On 26 June 1987, the United Nations Convention Against Torture came into effect.

India, a signatory of this treaty since 1997 is yet to ratify it in Parliament and incorporate into the national legal framework. Fifteen years after expressing its intention to ratify this treaty, it is a shame that this so-called great democracy has yet to absolutely prohibit this inhuman and barbaric practice of torture by its police and armed forces. On 26 June 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted soon after on 10 December 1948.

Since then the decision to annually observe the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was taken by the UN General Assembly at the proposal of Denmark, which is home to the world-renowned International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). "The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – 26 June" is thence held annually on 26 June to speak out against the crime of torture and to honour and support victims and survivors throughout the world; dozens of organisations in dozens of countries mark the day each year with events, celebrations and campaigns Rehabilitation is the theme for the 26 June 2012 campaign. Rehabilitation empowers torture victims to resume as full a life as possible. However, rebuilding the life of someone whose dignity has been destroyed takes time and is the result of long-term material, edical, psychological and social support.

Rehabilitation works…and is a torture survivor's right. The Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) and its Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture (H2H) in collaboration with other human right organisations have been carrying out a campaign against torture while advocating and actively supporting the rehabilitation process of torture victims for many years. Against almost insurmountable odds, the centre and its sister organisations have been able to bring about positive changes in a system perforated with rights violations, especially transgressions on individual rights, right of an individual to a proper and humane treatment; against inhuman torture and proper rehabilitation.

Even though its successes have often been swamped by obstacles and adversities coming from state and non-state machineries, the centre as nevertheless persevered and been able to sustain some of the gains it achieved through many years of grit determination and stoical resolve. "This is the first time I ever danced wholeheartedly and it seems to bring me an inner joy I have never experienced and that has been my mainstay ever since" said Bijeta, a 13 year-old girl victim who underwent Dance Movement Psychotherapy while attended a Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) organized by Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture (H2H) in 2010 during a recent interaction.

Another case in point is CORE and H2H's role in the rehabilitation support given to the family of one extra-judicial execution victim, a child, who was allegedly severely tortured before being killed. His mother, Ahanthem Tampha said, "After the fateful incident when I lost my son, I have been going through a hard time. I get flashbacks of good times I had with my son, and I still do hear his voice calling out my name when I'm alone…I am haunted by my son's absence and really miss him now. I am preoccupied most of the time by my son's memories and what happened to him and this has badly affected my daily activities. I started neglecting my other children and do regret about this too. I know I have also been affected mentally by my son's unnatural death. But with the support from CORE and H2H, I am now gradually starting to come to terms with my son's death and believe my wounds are slowly starting to heal. I know this will take time but I am hopeful and for this, I am profoundly grateful to CORE and H2H for their steadfastness and help to me and my family."

Given the protracted nature of the traumata faced by torture victims and/or the family members of the victims and of the volume it speaks on the very legitimacy of such state forces perpetrating such violations under the garb of democracy, justice and security, the collaborating organizers of the training workshop calls for the immediate ratification of the long delayed Prevention of Torture Bill in Parliament consistent with the UN Convention Against Torture.

We also urge the government of India to ensure that perpetrators of torture, be it the police, its armed forces and any other state agency or representative of the state, are given exemplary and severe punishment to deter this practice in future. We further call on the government of India to also ensure that victims of torture and ill treatment are given access to justice, full redress and rehabilitation.

Dr Immanuel Varte
Deputy Director, CORE

Basantakumar Wareppa
Human Rights Alert

Paonam Thoibi
HUMAN TO HUMANE Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture