The United Nations (UN)’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed across the globe on 26 June to oppose the crime of torture and honour and support torture victims and survivors worldwide.
- This Day also aims to eradicate torture and support the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, one of the key instruments in fighting torture.
- 26 June 2024 marks the observance of the 27th International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Background:
i.On 12 December 1997, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/52/149, proclaiming 26 June of every year as International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
ii.The 1st ever International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was observed on 26th June 1998.
Why 26 June?
26 June marks the day in 1987 when the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment, or Punishment came into effect which aims to eradicate torture worldwide.
Points to Note:
i.1998 marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document in the history of human rights adopted by the UNGA on 10 December 1948.
- The UDHR consists of 30 articles outlining fundamental human rights.
- It was the 1st time that countries agreed on a comprehensive statement of absolute human rights that should be universally protected.
ii.Article 5 of the UDHR outlines that “No one shall be subjected to torture or Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or punishment”.
UN Convention Against Torture:
i.It was adopted by the UNGA in 1984 and came into force in 1987. Today, the Convention has been ratified by 174 State parties.
ii.Its implementation by state parties is monitored by a body of independent experts, the Committee Against Torture.
- It is an independent expert mandated to report on the situation of torture in the world.
- Pieter (Peter) Hendrik Kooijmans (Netherlands) was appointed as the 1st Special Rapporteur on torture and other CIDT from 1985 to 1993.
Note: Dr. Alice Jill Edwards (Australia) is the 7th(current) and 1st woman UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture:
i.It is a unique UN operation and victim-focused mechanism that channels funding for assistance to victims of torture and their families.
ii.It was established in 1981 by the UNGA (resolution 36/151) that aims to rebuild lives and seek redress for human rights violations.
iii.The Fund is managed by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), with the advice of a Board of Trustees with independent experts from 5 world regions.
Fund in 2024:
i.In 2024, the Fund awarded 183 annual grants for civil society organisations to implement projects for direct assistance to torture victims, for a total of USD 7,967,600.
ii.The Fund also awarded 7 annual grants to help build the capacity of civil society organizations serving survivors.
iii.In addition, the Fund allocated USD 250,000 for emergency grants to be awarded in exceptional circumstances in response to human rights and humanitarian crises throughout 2024.
Note: On average, the Fund aids over 50,000 people every year.
