The United Nations (UN’s) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed across the globe on 26 June to reaffirm the absolute prohibition of torture under international law and to express solidarity with survivors across the globe.
- 26 June 2025 marks the observance of the 28th International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Background:
i.On 12 December 1997, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by adopting the resolution A/RES/52/149, proclaimed 26 June of every year as International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
ii.The first ever International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was observed on 26th June 1998.
Why 26 June?
The day commemorates the enforcement of the United Nations Convention Against Torture(UNCAT), formally known as the “Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” on 26 June 1987.
UDHR and Anti-Torture Principle:
i.The year 1998 marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a foundational document adopted by the UNGA on 10 December 1948.
ii.This declaration consists of 30 articles that outline the core rights and freedoms entitled to all individuals globally.
iii.One of its key provisions, Article 5, states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
About United Nations Convention Against Torture(UNCAT):
i.Adoption: UNCAT was adopted by the UNGA on 10th December 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987.
ii.CAT: The Committee Against Torture (CAT) monitors how State parties implement the Convention by reviewing their periodic reports and providing recommendations.
iii.Optional Protocol: Adopted in 2002, the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) created a system of regular visits by independent international and national bodies to detention facilities to help prevent torture.
iv.Global Participation:As of 2025, 175 countries have become States Parties to the UNCAT, affirming their commitment to eradicating torture globally.
v.India’s Status: India signed the Convention on 14 October 1997 but has not yet ratified it.
Note: Pieter (Peter) Hendrik Kooijmans from the Netherlands served as the first UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment from 1985 to 1993. The current and seventh mandate-holder, Dr. Alice Jill Edwards of Australia, is also the first woman to occupy this role.
UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT):
i.The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT) was established in 1981 by the UNGA through resolution 36/151, with the aim of providing humanitarian, legal, psychological, and financial aid to torture survivors and their families.
ii.The Fund is administered by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
iii.It is managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the UN Secretary-General.
Funds in 2025:
i.In 2025, the UNVFVT provided 181 annual grants totaling USD 7.98 million to civil society organizations for projects offering direct support to torture survivors.
ii.It also awarded 5 capacity-building grants worth USD 130,000 to help organizations strengthen their services.
iii.Additionally, the Fund set aside USD 980,450 for emergency grants to respond to urgent human rights and humanitarian crises during the year.
