United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture aims at raising awareness and standing in solidarity with those who have experienced inhumane treatment. This global event seeks to promote the fight against torture and the importance of rehabilitation for victims. Established by the United Nations, this day facilitates dialogue and seeks to engage people from all walks of life in the prevention of torture and the care of its victims.

The history of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture dates back to 1997 and over the years, it has gained traction in many countries, including the United States. In America, this observance is significant because the U.S. has been an active proponent of human rights and the outright prohibition of torture. Additionally, the U.S. aligns with international human rights laws, and many non-governmental organizations advocate for the rights of torture victims in America and abroad.

In the United States, the observance of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture includes various events, such as seminars, panel discussions, and educational forums that aim to raise awareness and foster support for a world free from torture. Human rights organizations and individual activists participate in events and activities, sharing information about the prevention of torture and the vital need for rehabilitation services for victims. The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed annually on June 26.

Facts & quotes about victims of torture

• The term torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions - UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed - UN Secretary-General António Guterres
• The UN not only supports victims themselves but also their family members who might be affected by the trauma.
• According to humanrightsfirst.org, 25 former interrogators and intelligence professionals from the U.S. military gave a statement in 2014 on the effectiveness of torture. They stated, The application of psychological, emotional, and/or physical pressure can force a victim of torture to say anything just to end the painful experience. The challenge of interrogation is not to make people talk; instead, it is to obtain precise and credible information.

In the News and Trending in the US for United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Top things to do in the US for this observance

• Watch the UN's video on torture and how it is done in secret.
• Learn more about the UN's fund for victims of torture.
• Hear from torture survivors and learn about their rehabilitation.