Statement On The Occasion Of UN International Day In Support Of Victims Of Torture 2014

June 26, 2014

FIGHTING IMPUNITY
STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF
UN INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE

On 12 December 1997, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with a view to the total eradication of torture. This year marks 27 years since the UN Convention against Torture came into effect. Importantly too, this year marks 17 years since India signed the Convention against Torture but has failed to ratify it in Parliament, thereby failing to make its provisions applicable in India’s domestic law. India remains today, one of many states where torture is not clearly prohibited by law, a national climate of impunity prevails and where victims of torture are not entitled to redress, including rehabilitation and reparation.

The theme is “Fighting Impunity”. The climate of impunity within criminal justice systems is one of the most prominent factors in the continuation of torture worldwide.

Though torture is absolutely prohibited internationally by human rights law and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, from the USA to South Africa, from Egypt to India to the Philippines, it continues to be a practice. Therefore, professional and successful forensic investigation and rehabilitation of the tortured have become very important for victims of torture to get justice and reparation. The culture of silence that is imposed and encouraged by impunity needs be shaken off by the sustained collective efforts of the people of Manipur.

Since the year 2000, for the last 14 years, the Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) has been observing this solemn day every year, jointly with various partners, individuals, government agencies including law enforcement officers and other stakeholders such as women and youth groups, in the trust and hope that the eradication of torture in Manipur and across the entire nation would become a reality. In the year 2001, CORE launched a community based outreach programme to support young torture victims in Manipur.

This programme, a decade later in 2010, evolved into a clinic-cum-outreach humanitarian service named the Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Torture & Trauma (H2H), which has been supported by the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT) since 2011. Since its inception, H2H has treated over 300 registered survivors of torture, of which 129 continued to receive treatment and rehabilitation services, 42 were discharged and 39 were new cases during the period from April 2013 to April 2014.

To continue our whole-hearted efforts to better support victims of torture, and in conjunction with the UN International Day, CORE and H2H has this year organised a 4-day Care for Caregivers Training-cum-Workshop at Khangshim Village, Chandel District of Manipur from 24-27 June 2014 with the cooperation of the Weaker Section Development Council (WSDC) and REACH-M.

The programme, which has been designed for psychosocial counselors and caregivers working in conflict areas, is supported by European Commission’s European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), ActionAid and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Ms Nishtha Agarwal, Psychologist and Dance and Movement Therapist, co-founder of Creative Movement Therapy Association of India based in New Delhi is the principal facilitator of this programme.

Centre for Organisation Research & Education
(Indigenous Peoples' Organisation in Special Consultative Relationship with ECOSOC of United Nations)
1st Floor, Ibotombi Building, Babupara
Imphal 795001, MANIPUR
India
Tel/Fax: +91 385 244 13 19
Website: www.coremanipur.org