Expressing solidarity with victims, OSCE human rights chief calls on states to bolster efforts to eradicate torture
WARSAW, 26 June 2015 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on today’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, expressed solidarity with all those affected and called on OSCE participating States to bolster their efforts to end the practice of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the region.
“Torture and other forms of ill-treatment are absolutely prohibited under international law and can not be justified under any circumstances whatsoever, including national security, the fight against terrorism, the threat of war or public emergency,” the ODIHR Director said. “OSCE participating States have unequivocally committed themselves to preventing and eradicating the use of torture under all circumstances.”
Inhumane conditions of detention, the over-reliance on confessions or admission of information extracted under torture in courts, and the failure to conduct effective and impartial investigations into allegations of torture and to hold perpetrators accountable all remain major challenges throughout the OSCE region.
The UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as OSCE commitments, recognize the right of victims of torture and ill treatment to obtain full and effective redress and reparation.
“Failure to respect the rights of victims and to ensure accountability for torture contribute to an environment of impunity in which such practices persist,” Director Link said.
He also reminded OSCE participating States of their commitment, made 10 years ago in Ljubljana, to give early consideration to ratifying the 2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which allows for regular and independent visits to places of detention. Thirteen of the 57 OSCE participating States have yet to take any action, while another three have signed the Protocol but failed so far to ratify it.