OSCE and partners celebrate International Day in Support of Victims of Torture in Kyrgyzstan
The Coalition against Torture in partnership with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture, the Voice of Freedom Foundation and the Office of the Ombudsman held an informative workshop dedicated to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 25 June 2018 in Bishkek.
The main goal of the event was to raise the awareness of the general public of the issue of torture and draw the attention of representatives of state bodies, civil society and youth to the problem. During the workshop the participants viewed an exhibition of drawings produced by young artists depicting their perspectives on torture issues. A series of short documentary films telling real stories about victims of torture and their families was also presented.
“Knowledge of human rights is the primary step towards reaching a total eradication of torture. Therefore, there is a need for better enforcement of human rights,” said a representative of the Legal Prosperity Foundation, Nadira Eshmatova.
The event is one result of a long-term partnership of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek with the Legal Prosperity Foundation and the Coalition Against Torture, which includes 16 human rights organizations from across Kyrgyzstan. Working together, they take a complex approach to combating the problem of torture in the country. This encompasses a variety of activities to prevent torture, ranging from providing medical support to people in detention to regular monitoring of places of detention and consistent media coverage of incidents that occur in such places.
26 June was proclaimed the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (resolution 52/149 of 12 December) by the UN General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council, in December 1997. Marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is one way to contribute to eradicating torture and draw attention to the effective functioning of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force on 26 June 1987. The Convention was ratified by Kyrgyzstan on 26 July 1996.