Archive for category Pacific
Coming together to take a stand against torture
Posted by IRCT in Asia, Europe, From our members, Latin America & the Caribbean, Middle East North Africa, News & Clippings, North America, Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, Voices on 31/10/2012
Today the IRCT released a report on activities around the world to mark 26th June – the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The day saw an unprecedented number of organisations around the world come together to mark the day, to stand in solidarity with survivors of torture and to remind the world that rehabilitation for torture survivors not only works, it is a right to which they are entitled.
As Joost Martens, IRCT Secretary-General says in his foreword to the report,
Each year, on 26 June, we pause to commemorate and honour the victims of torture, both historic and present. The day has been marked since 1988, which was the first anniversary of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, signed on 26 June 1987.
Yet today, despite its absolute prohibition, torture continues to be a global phenomenon: both physical and psychological torture is prevalent in over half the world’s countries. This is a disgrace in the twenty-first century.
Its victims are men, women – often targeted by rape and other sexual torture, and also, children. Torture victims are disproportionately from marginalised groups, in particular the poor, but also minority groups, such as ethnic, religious and sexual minorities.
The day gives us a time to pause and remember those who have suffered, and stand with those who continue to suffer, for, the effects of torture continue long after the actual act has happened.
These are some of the photos we got from 26 June events around the world:
Indonesian military torture Papua civilians
Posted by IRCT in Asia, News & Clippings, Pacific on 13/10/2011
Yesterday, we tweeted a press release from the Asian Human Rights Commission that described the arrest and torture of 15 Papua civilians by the Indonesia military.
Siki Kogoya, a villager who was in his yard at the time, was shocked upon hearing the gunshot, after which he saw the joint team members make their way to him. One of the members pointed his gun at Siki’s mouth, while three others pointed their long barreled rifles at his neck. They then beat him with rifle butts and kicked his head, face, ribs and chest.
Today, we noticed also through Twitter of a Channel 4 (UK) news broadcast on an unrelated case of torture also involving the Indonesian military and Papua civilians. A warning: although a news broadcast, the video below is disturbing and depicts violence and torture.
Here’s a link to support the AHRC Urgent Appeal.
