June 26 marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, coinciding with the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which came into force in 1987.
The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 52/149 on December 12, 1997, proclaimed June 26 as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The observance of this day aims to completely eradicate torture and to effectively implement the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This convention, a crucial tool in the fight against torture, became effective on June 26, 1987.
Torture is a crime under international law. It is absolutely prohibited by all relevant instruments, and it cannot be justified under any circumstances. This prohibition is a part of customary international law, meaning it binds every member of the international community, regardless of whether a state has ratified the international treaties explicitly banning torture. The systematic and widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity.
The UN Convention against Torture has 173 state parties. This day serves as an opportunity to call upon all stakeholders, including UN member states, civil society, and individuals everywhere, to unite in support of the hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who have been victims of torture, as well as those who continue to endure it today.
Torture has lifelong effects on individuals’ physical and mental health and on society as a whole. Countries around the world employ various methods of torture, ranging from inflicting psychological and physical harm to causing mental and emotional suffering that often leads to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Some states with authoritarian regimes or those devastated by wars evade accountability by facilitating the practice of torture. Nearly four decades after the adoption of the UN Convention against Torture, evidence shows that torture continues to be practiced in all regions of the world, despite its recognition as an international crime.
Same Justice organization stands in solidarity with all victims and survivors of torture, condemns torture in all its forms, and calls on all states to ratify and implement the convention and its protocols.
