Today, more than 100 armed conflicts are raging worldwide, ravaging communities, stunting development and leading to serious human rights violations.
Ranging from severe beatings to sexual humiliation and rape, torture is widely used as a means of war. United Nations human rights director Volker Türk said torture often involves the use of tools or implements, mock executions and forcing victims to witness family members being tortured as well. .
Torture occurs in both official detention centers as well as secret locations, away from all surveillance.
in one video address Mr. Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, recalled meeting a torture victim whose heartbreaking story left an indelible mark: “It revealed the horror of what humans can do to each other. He will carry that deep wound for the rest of his life.”
No tolerance for torture
Torture is one serious crimeexpressly prohibited under international law and never justified under any circumstances.
Under UN Convention Against Torture All States must investigate and prosecute allegations of torture, as well as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. They are obligated to stop torture in every way possible.
“However, in most cases, those who ordered and carried out the crimes of torture escaped justice,” the commission said. OHCHR chief.
The Committee Against Torturea body of 10 independent human rights experts that oversees the implementation of the Convention, regularly reminding States of their obligations to educate and inform all military personnel, especially those assigned to detention-related duties, about ban.
“Countries must have a zero tolerance approach in the investigation and prosecution of acts of torture committed by their regular armed forces and the forces under their effective control,” said Claude Heller, Chairman of the Commission, The first important step in this is clear criminalization of torture at the domestic level.”
Help the victims
The scale of torture is alarming, with hundreds of thousands of victims spread out prisoners of war, human rights activists and innocent civilians people can get caught up in random sweeps. Such atrocities occur in thousands of locations across countries on every continent, the UN’s head of rights reminded.
It is particularly important, he said, to ensure that “torture – wherever it takes place – is documented, investigated, prosecuted and punished.”
By establishing facts and seeking accountability, much-needed help can be extended to torture victims.
Mr Türk said: “Every victim of torture has the right to admission, justice and redress.
More than four decades ago, the UN Voluntary Fund for Torture Victims was established to provide social assistance, medical care, psychological support and to help victims secure justice and prevent future acts of torture.
It works with civil society groups in more than 120 countries and has achieved more than a million survivors. Today, however, the need for the Foundation’s support is so high that Thousands of requests for aid had to be denied.
“We need more money to meet the growing demand,” the rights director said in a tweet.
Clearing up the tools of torture
The High Commissioner said that another effective way to prevent future torture cases from leaving the battlefield is to crack down on the trade in torture equipment.
“I fully support all efforts to restrict the sale of items that can be used for tortureincluding the adoption of a new non-torture international trade treaty,” he said.
