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The annual International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
is commemorated on 26 June at UN Headquarters in New York.
It aims to support the eradication of torture and 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 mark that occasion,
the General Assembly in 1998 proclaimed 26 June the day of
the observance.
"The International
Day in Support of Victims of Torture is an occasion to
highlight the unambiguous and absolute prohibition on
torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment. This year, it also marks the twentieth anniversary
of the entry into force of the Convention against Torture.
Yet even after two decades, this instrument falls well
short of universal ratification. Today, I urge all UN
Member States who have not yet done so to accede to the
Convention, and to consider joining the Optional Protocol
to this Convention."
Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General |
The United Nations has further taken specific actions to
assist torture victims. In 1981, the General Assembly set
up the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of
Torture. The Commission on Human Rights has repeatedly appealed
to all Governments, organizations and individuals in a position
to do so to contribute to the Fund in order to allow it to
respond to the increasing number of requests for assistance.
In 1985, the Commission established the mandate of the Special
Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment, to conduct country visits and issue
an annual report, which is now presented to the Commission's
successor, the Human Rights Council.
"No
one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 5 |
The UN Chronicle has continuously covered the important fight
to eradicate torture. The following are some of the articles
on the human rights of torture victims:
LINKS TO RELATED RESOURCES:
These stories and more can be found at UN Chronicle Online
at www.un.org/chronicle.
The UN Chronicle is not an official record; the views expressed
in individual articles do not necessarily imply official endorsement
or acceptance by the United Nations.
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