APPEAL LAUNCHED FOR COMMEMORATION OF UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
Press Release
HR/4420
OBV/100
APPEAL LAUNCHED FOR COMMEMORATION OF UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
19990616 GENEVA, 15 June (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture will be commemorated, for the second time, on 26 June. The Committee against Torture, the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on questions relating to torture and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights -- the principal actors of the United Nations engaged in the fight against torture -- have launched an appeal, calling upon all governments, other United Nations bodies, programmes, funds and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate this International Day around the world.Following is the text of the joint declaration which has been released on this occasion:
"The Committee against Torture, the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on questions relating to torture and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
"Recalling the decision of the General Assembly to declare 26 June United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture,
"Recalling the appeals against torture of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in which, inter alia, all Governments were exhorted to defeat torture and torturers everywhere and reminded that ending torture was a beginning of true respect for the most basic of all human rights: the intrinsic dignity and value of each individual,
"Recalling also the Joint Declaration that they adopted on 26 June 1998,
"Reaffirming that torture is one of the vilest acts to be perpetrated by human beings upon each other,
"Concerned that requests for assistance for victims of torture are constantly increasing,
"Recalling that torture is prohibited by article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as by specific provisions of international human rights treaties adhered to by the majority of the States,
"Recognizing that torture is a breach of a non-derogable human right which cannot be justified under any circumstances and that its systematic or widespread practice is characterized as a crime against humanity under international law, in particular, by article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,
"Conscious of the necessity to place emphasis on prevention of torture, as recommended by the World Conference on Human Rights of 1993,
"Welcoming the organization of the VIII International Symposium on Torture as a Challenge to the Health, Legal and Other Professions, to be held in New Delhi from 22 to 25 September 1999,
"Acknowledging the valuable work of Governments, associations, groups and individuals in contributing to the effective elimination of all forms of torture,
"Paying tribute to all those who work selflessly to relieve the suffering and assist the recovery of torture victims around the world,
"1. Decide to renew their appeal to prevent and prohibit torture on the occasion of the United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture of 26 June 1999, and to this end,
"2. Urge all States to become parties to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment without reservation, if they have not already done so,
"3. Urge States parties to the Convention that have not yet accepted its optional provisions to do so as soon as possible,
"4. Call for the early adoption of the optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
"5. Urge all States to become parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998, as a matter of priority,
- 3 - Press Release HR/4420 OBV/100 16 June 1999
"6. Urge all States to ensure that torture is a crime in their domestic law and to rigorously pursue perpetrators whenever the act was committed and bring them to justice,
"7. Urge all States to provide for compensation and rehabilitation of the victims of torture in their domestic law,
"8. Appeal to all Governments, organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, if possible on a regular basis, keeping in mind the increasing demand for medical, psychological, social, humanitarian and legal assistance to victims of torture and members of their families worldwide,
"9. Urge all States to cooperate fully with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture in fulfilling his mandate,
"10. Consider that, by these means, the crime of torture may be effectively prosecuted and condemned all over the world and that impunity of torturers, no matter what is their status, will no longer be tolerated,
"11. Call upon all Governments, other United Nations bodies, programmes, funds and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture."
* *** *