DUSHANBE, June 24, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik human rights organizations have joined international campaign for the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment and called on others to join in.
Three human rights organizations in Tajikistan – Nota Bene of Nigina Bahriyeva, Human Rights Center of Nourmahmad Khalilov and Independent Humana Rights Protection Center of Sergey Romanov – on June 24 released a joint appeal for joining international campaign for the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.
The appeal, in particular, says the absolute prohibition of torture is under attack, and public opinion is putting up with it. “This deviation from the international norm is a negation of the dignity of the human person.”
They also note that the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is held annually on June 26 to speak out against the crime of torture and to honor and support victims and survivors throughout the world.
The day was selected by the United Nations General Assembly for two reasons. First, on 26 June 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed – the first international instrument obliging UN members to respect and promote human rights. Second, 26 June 1987 was when the United Nations Convention Against Torture came into effect.
World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) launched the international campaign for the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment in 2010. To-date, the OMCT Manifesto “Nothing can justify torture under any circumstances” has been signed by 2,321 organizations and individual persons.
Nobel Peace Prize laureates Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, Rigoberta Menchú, José Ramos-Horta, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Joseph Stiglitz, Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter have signed the Manifesto. Kofi Annan and Sandrine Salerno, Mayor of Geneva, formally signed the Manifesto on June 23, 2010 to mark the launching of an international campaign to alert everyone to the dangers which a society that tolerates torture risks.
Established in 1986, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) is today the main coalition of international non-governmental organisations (NGO) fighting against torture, summary executions, enforced disappearances and all other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. With 297 affiliated organisations in its SOS-Torture Network and many tens of thousands correspondents in every country, OMCT is the most important network of non-governmental organisations working for the protection and the promotion of human rights in the world.
Based in Geneva, OMCT’s International Secretariat provides personalized medical, legal and/or social assistance to hundreds of torture victims and ensures the daily dissemination of urgent appeals across the world, in order to protect individuals and to fight against impunity. Specific programs allow it to provide support to specific categories of vulnerable people, such as women, children and human rights defenders. In the framework of its activities, OMCT also submits individual communications and alternative reports to the special mechanisms of the United Nations, and actively collaborates in the development of international norms for the protection of human rights.
