26 June 2013
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Global Report on the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 26 JUNE 2013 International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Torture victims have the right to rehabilitation. Let’s make this right a reality. 2013 Global Report on the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) is an independent, international health-based human rights organisation, which promotes and supports the rehabilitation Contents of torture victims, promotes access to justice and works 26 June: global campaign 2 for the prevention of torture worldwide. The vision of the IRCT Making the right to rehabilitation a reality 4 is a world without torture. Campaign materials 6 The views expressed in this Types of activities 7 report can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the Commemorations around the world 8 below institutions. The country Asia 10 activities portrayed in this report Europe 20 are based on the submission of reports received from campaign Latin America and the Caribbean 30 participants. Middle East and North Africa 34 The production of this report North America and Pacific 37 was made possible thanks to Sub-Saharan Africa 44 financial support from the Oak Foundation, the Ministry of 52 Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Social media the European Commission. IRCT Statement on 26 June 54 Status of the UNCAT 56 2013 © International Rehabilitation IRCT Communications Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) IRCT All rights reserved Borgergade 13 P.O. Box 9049 ISBN (print): 978-87-88882-95-7 1022 Copenhagen K ISBN (online): 978-87-88882-96-4 Denmark 26 June: global campaign Each year thousands gather Participating organisations across the world to together call for an end to torture. North America From the Philippines to Russia and Pacific: to Venezuela, human rights defenders call for an end to STARTTS, Australia the horrific practice of torture. STTARS, Australia Some actions are local: organi- CCVT, Canada sations highlight the specific RTR, New Zealand ways in which torture takes CLSACC, USA place in each country – call Code Pink, USA CVT, USA on their national governments FCST, USA to ratify the UN Convention Heartland Alliance, USA against Torture and advocate ST, International, USA for treatment for asylum seek- CST, USA ers and refugees. The IRCT brings together these local voices into a global cam- paign. The Global Report high- lights context-specific advo- cacy, and collates all voices to one call to end torture, provide justice for the victims and re- habilitate victims of torture. Help us to continue our cam- paign on 26 June. Join us next year as well call for support for the victims of torture world- Latin America and wide. Create your own event, the Caribeen: tell us your plans. Take a mo- ment to remember those af- EATIP, Argentina fected. Contribute to the fight ITEI, Bolivia against torture. CINTRAS, Chile CAPS, Colombia Thank you. We look forward to CCTI, Mexico working with you next year. Frayba, Mexico Red de Apoyo, Venezuela Countries where activites were known to have taken place 2 Europe: ARCT, Albania RCTV Memoria, Moldova FAVL, Armenia IMMO, The Netherlands Vive Žene, Bosnia Herze- MRCT Craiova, Romania govina INGO CAT, Russia RCT Zagreb, Croatia IAN CRTV, Serbia Empathy, Georgia Red Cross Malmö, Sweden MFH Bochum, Germany SOHRAM-CASRA, Turkey Cordelia Foundation, Hungary Freedom from Torture, UK SPIRASI, Ireland LGC, UK VI.TO/CIR, Italy Redress, UK* Asia: KRCT, Kosovo RTC, UK ACAT, Luxembourg CRTS, Bangladesh BCHRD, Bangladesh TPO, Cambodia CCTV, India CORE H2H, India MRW, India SICHREM, India TTSP, India ALDP, Indonesia Middle East and SIKAP, Indonesia North Africa: RATA, Indonesia CVICT, Nepal CNDF, Algeria TPO, Nepal Sub-Saharan Africa: ODVV, Iran HDO, Pakistan BFRCT, Iraq SACH, Pakistan SAP/GL, Burundi CVT, Jordan Balay, Philippines FEPNET, Cameroon Khiam Center, Lebanon MAG, Philippines AJPNV, Chad Restart Center, Lebanon Trauma Centre, South Korea GIPROCOME, DR Congo AMRVT, Morocco Truth Foundation, South Korea REMAK, DR Congo HRO Kandy, Sri Lanka SOPROP, DR Congo FRC, Sri Lanka SAVE CONGO, DR Congo SA, Sri Lanka CVT, Ethiopia CAT, Kenya CVT Dabaab, Kenya CVT Nairobi, Kenya IMLU, Kenya MATESO, Kenya IRC, Kenya ACAT, Liberia RAL, Liberia PRAWA, Nigeria Steps to Life, Nigeria YEHRCR, Nigeria Amel Center, Sudan Al Fanar, Sudan ACTV, Uganda 3 Making the right to rehabilitation a reality for everyone As the global umbrella organisation for 144 re- torture victims and how states can become ac- habilitation centres in more than 70 countries, countable for their implementation efforts. the IRCT has long collaborated with various stakeholders to further a conducive policy en- These were important steps to shape the pre- vironment for the right to rehabilitation, and to cise scope of the right to rehabilitation, and to develop practical understanding on how this gain a shared understanding of what needs to right can be best implemented. be done by the scientific and professional com- munity to make this right a reality. However, this In collaboration with other international NGOs right will not materialise without a much wider working in the field, the IRCT provided con- support base. certed and strategic input to the development of the UN Committee against Torture’s General The 2013 UN International Day in Support of Comment No. 3 on Article 14, clarifying the pre- Victims of Torture on 26 June was encouraging. cise scope of the obligations on states. Our The report you are now reading shows some of input, reflected in the final document, focused the actions taken on the ground by hundreds on a victim-centred approach, early access to of organisations and individuals around the rehabilitation and the criteria for holistic reha- world. On 26 June, they honoured the victims bilitation. and highlighted their rights. Through music and theatre performances, conferences and lec- The IRCT also brought together the expertise tures, peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins, and from rehabilitation centres worldwide, repre- many other events, the message came out loud sentatives from academia, governments, inter- and clear. “ governmental organisations and civil society in a scientific conference held in Beirut, to explore Many people around the world heard that mes- in detail the way rehabilitation is provided to sage, from government representatives to po- lice officers, from prison guards to bloggers and 4 The 2013 UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June was encouraging. The report you are now reading shows some of the actions taken on the ground by hundreds of organisations and individuals around the world. On 26 June, they honoured the victims and highlighted their rights. Through music and theatre performances, conferences and lectures, peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins, and many other events, the message came out loud and clear. activists, from legal and medical professionals comes a reality for everyone, and until the real- to mere passers-by. And through the efforts of ity of torture survivors becomes another, where the IRCT and all the other organisations and through rehabilitation their life becomes whole individuals who marked the day, this message again. “will keep spreading, echoing until this right be- Suzanne Jabbour Victor Madrigal-Borloz President Secretary-General 5 “ The poster, dowloaded more than 4000 times, was available in ten languages: Arabic, Russian, Danish, Faroese, Polish, English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish, which was made possible through the help of centres around the world. Campaign materials The IRCT seeks to support the members and other anti-torture organisations to host their own campaigns each year. We want the message of 26 June to reach as many people as possible. Every year, the IRCT offers a wide range of campaign tools at www.irct.org/26june. The kit includes posters, logos, a campaign guide, a factsheet collection, a statement for a global reading, sample letters and press releases, videos and a game. We strive to offer these tools in as many languages as possible. This year’s highlights are: The campaign guide The IRCT campaign guide is the result of many contributions from organi- sations that, over the years, have commemorated the 26 June. The guide offers practical advice from the centres that have held 26 June events: what kind of events to hold, how to plan and coordinate, how to reach out to the media. Factsheets The factsheets can help increase the understanding and visibility of the problem of torture and were used by organisations around the world as handouts and/or in This year, we also response to inquiries. included a new brochure on Right to Rehabilitation that ex- Logos and other print materials plains the outcomes of the UN Committee This year a great number of printable materials were against Torture’s available. Our logo for 26 June was used in creating a General Comment No. poster, banners and badges. All the logos and posters 3 and the basics on were available for download to use on print materi- holistic rehabilitation. als – such as placards at public marches – or for use on social media networks – such as banners on Facebook or a Twitter profile picture. The 26 June poster included the slogan: Torture victims have a right to rehabilitation. Let’s make this right a reality. 6 Types of activities Informational/Educational Activities Conferences and seminars are still among the most popular 26 June campaign activities. Either for the purposes of raising awareness about torture, to present and discuss local means of prevention or “SIKAP, a to present the activities undertaken for the rehabilitation of victims group of 27 civil of torture, workshops and lectures are an effective way to educate society organisations in Indonesia, and share knowledge. Other informational/educational activities organised a series of activities to advo- organised for 26 June include distribution of informational mate- cate for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UNCAT, rehabilitation for rials, testimonies by torture survivors, radio quizzes, film victims of torture and access to justice.” screenings and open houses.