Participants at a human chain rally on Wednesday organised to observe
the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture called for
enacting anti-torture law to ensure rights of rehabilitation of the
victims and eliminate poverty to break cycle of torture.
Rights activists of Odhikar organised the human chain, read out a
memorandum in front of Barisal Ashwini Kumar Hall and handed over it
to the administration and police. A procession was brought out on city
roads to remind all that any type of human torture in anywhere is not
only unacceptable – it is also a crime.
In the memorandum the human rights defenders called the government to
sign and implement international treaties in which torture is
expressly prohibited, stopping practice of indemnity favouring the
torturers, end of torture under custody of law enforcers and helping
right activists in creating anti-torture awareness.
They condemned torture from the outset as one of the vilest acts
perpetrated by human beings on their fellow human beings and is a
crime under international law. According to all relevant instruments,
torture is absolutely prohibited and cannot be justified under any
circumstance.
They reminded the Government of responsibilities towards torture
victims and their “Right to Rehabilitation” as outlined in the UN
Convention to ensure medical, psychological, legal and vocational
support to survivors of torture.
The participants carrying banner and placards urged the government,
rights activists and members of civil society to take action to defeat
torture and torturers everywhere by enacting anti-torturelaw as ‘
torture’ seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the
inherent dignity of the human being.
They also calling for breaking a cycle of poverty said poverty is a
root cause of torture and also an effect of torture on individuals,
their families, and wider societies. Providing rehabilitation to
survivors, as well as working for justice and prevention of torture
therefore helps break a cycle of poverty.
Mentionably, on June 26, 1987, the Convention against Torture came
into force and in 1997 the United Nations General Assembly decided to
mark this historic date and designated June 26 each year as the
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, The first
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was held on June
26, 1998.
(Source: Our Correspondent)
