On the occasion of 26 June, the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, a local non-governmental organisation International Aid Network IAN would like to draw public attention to the obligation of the state of Serbia to establish or designate one or several independent national mechanisms for prevention of torture, accepted by the ratification of the UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and by ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention (OPCAT) in 2006.
The OPCAT aims at establishing regular monitoring visits of international and domestic expert bodies to all places where people are deprived of their liberty in order to prevent torture and other forms of maltreatment.
According to the OPCAT a State is required to establish or designate one or several National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) for prevention of torture within a year after ratification. This means that Serbia was due to do this in 2007, however this obligation remains unfulfilled.
We urge the Parliament of Serbia to establish or designate a national preventive mechanism as soon as possible and thus fulfil the obligation.
"The UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, obliges the signatory states to prevent torture, identify and punish perpetrators, ensure fair and adequate compensation for victims, official recognition that harm has been done to the person in question as well as rehabilitation. Thanks to the financial support of the European Union IAN is implementing a Comprehensive programme for rehabilitation of torture victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina that ensures relevant assistance to torture victims and their family members", said Sandrina Speh Vujadinovic, Coordinator of IAN Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims.
Serbia has no special programs for victims of torture. The only specialised centre where the victims and members of their families can receive a comprehensive rehabilitation services operates within International Aid Network. Rehabilitation includes free of charge psychological, psychiatric, medical, and legal assistance as well as education in the Centre for rehabilitation of torture victims in Belgrade . The services are also provide din the filed through mobile teams. Activities are implemented in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina supported through the EU funded project.
Commemorating June 26th of June the UN International day in support of victims of torture, IAN also organises a dance and music capoeira performance in Kalemegdan (near the Fisherman Fountain) at 16:30. On IAN web site ( www.ian.org.rs ) everybody can give their contribution and support this day by playing an educative Pacman game Let's Erase Torture .
International Aid Network IAN is a humanitarian organisation that operates a Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (CRTV) providing free-of charge psychological, psychiatric, medical and legal assistance as well as education for victims of torture, majority of whom are victims of war torture. The Centre provides its services to clients both in its premises and in the field. So far more than 2000 victims of torture and their family members received assistance in the IAN CRTV. Numerous donors have supported the work of the Centre including European Commission, UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and CAFOD.
For additional information please contact:
Gordana Stankov Stojilovic, Programme Coordinator
International Aid Network
Admirala Geprata 10, Belgrade
063 264 722
011 7617 197
26 June 2010
IRCT statement for a global reading on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2010
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today marks the UN International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture. It provides us with a time to reflect on the past, to honour the victims and survivors of torture and to look to a better future: to a World Without Torture. The horrific practice of torture continues to afflict people across the globe. But a world without torture is possible. That is something we must always hold on to. We owe it to the victims and survivors of this heinous crime around the world.
A world without torture will not become a reality until we have brought healing to those who have been subjected to this appalling practice. Without healing, the effects of torture are all too likely to continue within the survivors. Each year over 100,000 survivors of torture receive treatment from IRCT member centres. But there are many more. Together, we must work to increase our reach in order to bring healing to the greater numbers who suffer.
In bringing about a world without torture we must work to ensure that the mechanisms are in place to prevent it from happening in future. We will take a meaningful step towards this when governments, the health and legal professions and other relevant actors are committed to ensuring that all torture survivors have access to justice.
This must include children, torture's oft-forgotten victims. While anyone can become a victim of torture, children are especially vulnerable, in particular those countless girls and boys born into poverty and conflict.
In the context of war and police brutality children much too often find themselves violated at the cruel hands of a torturer. Today we stress that every state has an additional duty to ensure that there is someone to speak up on their behalf and to protect them from this horrendous crime.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the past year we've seen positive steps being taken on the long road towards a world without torture. These steps must be celebrated. A few examples:
In Asia, only this month Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture. And we've seen India , the world's second most populous country and its largest democracy, take steps to ratify the Convention. In Europe , we've seen the British government call for an inquiry into complicity in torture in the so-called "War on Terror".
In Africa, following the horrific post-election violence in Kenya , the International Criminal Court has announced that it will initiate an investigation and to protect witnesses.
In the Americas we've seen Argentina successfully bring to justice the perpetrators of torture from the despotic regimes of the 1970s, sending out a strong message that there is nowhere for the perpetrators to hide. And last but not least, at the local level the member centres of the IRCT continue tirelessly working to help torture survivors rebuild their lives, as well as to raise awareness and seek justice.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The greatest threat to the fight against torture remains apathy: that we silently accept that torture exists. Today, as we honour the victims and survivors of torture all over the world, let us promise that we will not silently accept that the crime of torture continues . Let us pledge to do all we can to prevent greater numbers joining their ranks.
Right now, we - the rehabilitation centres and programmes that are members of the IRCT - are jointly raising our voices across the world, reading out this statement on this special day. Together, we are saying that we will not remain silent, and that we will continue working together to bring about a World Without Torture.
Signing a UN Convention against torture Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment , and by ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention (OPCAT) in 2006, the State of Serbia overtook an obligation to establish or designate one or several independent national mechanisms for the prevention of torture. This obligations is still unfulfilled. On the occasion of June 26, the UN International Day in support of victims of torture, IAN International Aid Network - IAN organises a series of events so as to initiate some positive changes.
Press conference will be held
on Wednesday, June 23, at 11am in Media Center , Terazije 3, Belgrade
The speakers at the conference are:
Thomas Gnocchi , Head of Political Sector in the Delegation of the EU to Serbia
Milos Jankovic , Deputy Ombudsman for persons deprived of their liberty
Sandrina Speh Vujadinovic , Coordinator of IAN Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims
Ðorde Alempijevic, Institute of Forensic Medicine , Medical Faculty, Belgrade Univeristy
Ljiljana Palibrk, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
In addition, services available in IAN Centre for rehabilitation of torture victims will be presented at the conference. The Centre is supported by the European Union.
Within this year's campaign TOGETHER AGAINST TORTURE IAN organises:
Wednesday, June 23, 11h-12h , Media center, Terazije 3, Belgrade
PRESS CONFERENCE National mechanisms for prevention of torture - still unfulfilled
obligation of the State
Saturday, June 26, 16:30h , Kalemegdan at the Fisherman Fountain (near the Monument to France )
DANCE AND MUSIC CAPOEIRA PERFORMANCE Together against torture
Educative Pacman game Let`s erase torture on IAN web site www.ian.org.rs
We invite you to join us and support the campaign. For a world without torture!
International Aid Network IAN is a humanitarian organisation that operates a Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (CRTV). The Centre has been founded in year 2000 in Belgrade and it is accredited by the IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims). It provides free-of-charge psychological, psychiatric, medical and legal assistance as well as education for victims of torture and members of their families.
In order to join the world actions against torture it is of great importance to distribute the information on the existence of IAN Centre to the people who survived the experience of torture and provide rehabilitation to them. Support and assistance of media representatives in implementing our mission is invaluable.
This web presentation has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union.
The contents of this web presentation are the sole responsibility of the International Aid Network and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
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