Rehabilitation for victims of torture discussed at OSCE/ODIHR workshop in Vienna
The current and potential role of OSCE structures in assisting its 57 participating States to implement their obligations and OSCE commitments in ensuring the full rehabilitation of torture victims was the focus of a workshop held in Vienna on 12 October 2016. The event was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship, the Government of Denmark and the Geneva-based organisation Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI).
Eberhard Pohl, Chair of the Permanent Council and German Ambassador to the OSCE, underlined that the German OSCE Chairmanship attaches paramount importance to the worldwide abolition of torture as well as the complete rehabilitation of torture victims.
“It is essential for the OSCE region that high standards are maintained by all participating States with regard to respect for the absolute prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” Ambassador Pohl said. “The OSCE, through its field presences on the ground and with the support of ODIHR can indeed make a valuable contribution to this process.”
Delegations of OSCE participating States discussed their own practices, potential challenges they may face in the implementation of their commitments and their collaboration with civil society organizations in the field. Participating States reiterated their commitment to reinforce the prevention of torture and made specific suggestions on how ODIHR and OSCE field operations may further work towards the full implementation of the right to rehabilitation of victims of torture in the region.
“We hope to inspire a strengthened role for the OSCE in providing rehabilitation to victims of torture, which can help bring us one step closer towards one of the objectives of the CTI: universal implementation of the UN Convention against Torture,” said Liselotte Plesner, Denmark’s Ambassador to the OSCE.
“ODIHR stands ready to facilitate the exchange of good practices and foster dialogue with all actors involved in the rehabilitation of victims of torture in the OSCE region,” said Stephanie Selg, ODIHR’s Advisor on Torture Prevention. “This workshop provides an excellent opportunity to identify possible ways in which ODIHR can best assist participating States in their efforts."
The workshop builds on a regional event on rehabilitation for victims of torture in OSCE participating States and ODIHR’s role in these efforts, held in June 2016 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The topic was also at the centre of a side event organized by the CTI during the 2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw.