PDF Format: Lesson series 24: June 26 - International Day Against Torture and for the Victims of Torture

Introduction

June 26 has been designated International Day Against Torture by the United Nations some years ago.

It is sad that it appears to be necessary for us to institute such a day to remind ourselves that the practice of torture is widely prevalent in Asian Societies today. Although many countries are signatories to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT - the "Torture Convention"), there is still tacit tolerance towards and acceptance of many forms of torture and inhuman and degrading treatnment and punishment.

The Human Rights School has produced and circulated 2 previous lessons on Torture: Lesson Series 7, which dealt with the nature, causes and consequences of torture

Lesson Series 20, which posed some discussion questions for local community action against torture, and showed the need to reform the prosecution system in order to eliminate torture.

These lessons can be downloaded from the web-site [www.hrschool.org]

In conjunction with the International Day Against Torture, the AHRC has issued the following Statement, which gives a number of practical suggestions for actions to eliminate torture. We hope that it will stimulate not only discussion on and awareness of the occurrence of torture, but more importantly, action against torture.